What is the difference between archeology and geology

Paleontology is a scientific subject since the fossils are studied and analyzed through scientific techniques. Thus, a paleontologist must have a strong educational background in the natural sciences, with a focus on biology and geology. Archaeologists study the past human lifestyles and cultures.

Paleontologists study the history of life on earth. Archaeologists need education in archeology, anthropology, ancient history, or conservation. Paleontologists need education in natural sciences, especially in biology and geology. She is currently reading for a Masters degree in English. Her areas of interests include literature, language, linguistics and also food. View all posts. They are more occupied in examination for mining companies in search of metals, oils, and other Earth resources.

However, they are also engaged in the study of natural hazards and disasters like earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, etc. Geologists work to understand the history of our planet. Archeologist deals with the study of ancient times. It provides an insight into the ancient times by analyzing the remained materials belonging to that time.

Geologist studies the history of the Earth. It is a broad term in science used for the study of soils, minerals, rocks and other features and processes of soils.

Difference between Archaeologist and Geologist. Key Difference: Archaeologists basically study about the human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material which they have left behind.

Geologist basically deals with the study about the history of the Earth. Comparison between Archaeologist and Geologist: Archaeologist Geologist Description Archeologist deals with the study of ancient times. Pronunciation ahr-kee-ol-uh-jist jee-ol-uh-jist Degree Generally, require a Ph. Four-year college degree in geology. Fields Ethnoarchaeology — deals with the ethnographic investigation of living communities in order to acquire knowledge of the past. Landscape archaeology — deals with the study of the various changes that take place in different landscapes, both naturally as well as due to human invention.

As such archaeologists have not only been contingent to the discipline of geology but have proved it to be useful in their various archaeological researches. Its extreme was reached in when the term Archaeogeology was, for the first time, used by Colin Renfrew to describe the contribution of the geological sciences to geology. Norman and Evan To monument the importance of geology in archaeological tasks, the geological society of America GSA established the Archaeological Geology Division in , whose purpose was to provide suitable forum for presentation of papers on archaeological geology and to stimulate research and teaching in archaeological geology.

The earlier documentation of the influence of geology in archaeology is believed to have started in when Charles Lyell published his Principles of Geology. In , he published his famous book Te Geological Evidence of the antiquity of Man, in which he used geological context to document the remains and artifacts of early humans.

It is from such pretext that this paper attempts to analyze the relationship between archaeology and geology, a study that, among other things, aims to illustrate the extent to which the discipline of archaeology has benefited from the study of geology at large.

For the purpose of this discussion, two major terms are also going to be examined; Archaeology and Geology. According to Fagan , Archaeology is the scientific study of the human past, of ancient human behavior, from the earliest time right up to the present.

As such, archaeology is part of wider discipline of archaeology which studies all aspects of humanity, ancient and modern. But archaeologists are unique among scientists in that they study changes in human culture over long period of time. On the other hand Collin and Paul define archaeology as partly discovery of treasures of the past, partly the meticulous work of scientific analyst, partly the exercise of the creative imagination. Renfrew and Bahn By and large, the study of archaeology is concerned with analysis of human culture by using cultural remains and other cultural phenomena.

Geology can be defined as the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the process by which they change. Geology can also refer to the study of the solid features of any celestial body. It gives insight into the history of Earth by providing the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates. Geology has been divided into two major groups namely; planetary geology and applied geology. Lidell, et al.

Planetary geology has to do with exploration of other planets i. This new field of study is called planetary geology sometimes known as astrogeology and relies on known geologic principles to study other bodies of the solar system. Applied geology is the geology that is used in various areas of practice including mining, engineering, hydrology and environmental issues and, in due course, archaeology. According to Norman and Evan , in their book, Geological Methods for Archaeology, geology covers substantial roles in various archaeological processes as follows;.

Geology facilitates archaeological sites exploration. The first decision that must be made in any new archaeological program is where to dig. In many cases, the decision can be based on historical records, by the visible remains of ancient construction, or by the discovery of abundant artifacts. However, to see deep enough into the surface so that decision can be made on specific target areas for excavation, and also to obtain an idea of what artifacts and constructions to expect, techniques involving geology are increasingly used.

Analysis and interpretation of archaeological site and its environment. In archaeological studies, landscapes and environment can be recreated through studies of geomorphology and sedimentology embedded in geology.

As such, geology is used to analyses the deposits found in the surface that provides much of the evidence for changes in land forms over time. These deposits may be residual materials , formed in place by weathering of underlying formations, or may have been formed elsewhere and then transported by wind, water, or humans to their present site of deposition. The kind and amount of surficial materials change with changing land surface and climatic conditions and so offer the est evidence regarding the evolution of the landscape.

An understanding of these changes on a site will allow re-creation of the palaeoenvironment at the time of occupation and modeling of the prehistoric land-use patterns. Archaeological exploration in an area is facilitated by first pinpointing desirable habitation sites of the time and then targeting these sites for geophysical and geological prospecting.

Excavation process, geology and geomorphic-sedimentologic information can help develop excavation strategies. Such information commonly allows a better idea of the distribution and nature of buried artifacts and may explain anomalous surficial redistribution of artifacts, for example, by downslope wash or sediment burial.

In doing that three major phases are involved; Geomorphic mapping that provides descriptions of the landforms, drainage pattern, surficial deposits, tectonic features and any active geomophological process; analysis of the erosion process that carved the land forms-including soil formation, sediment removal or deposition and tectonic uplift-are documented; the land-forms, climate, and surficial deposits of today are extrapolated back to reconstruct palaeoenvironmrnt and palaeoclimate at the time of the occupation of the site.

Geology helps in archaeological artifact analysis since it can be used to determine the sources of raw materials used in the artifact.