Environmental archaeology is the interdisciplinary study of past human interactions with the natural world — a world that encompasses plants, animals and landscapes. It is traditionally divided into zooarchaeology (animal remains), archaeobotany (plant remains) and geoarchaeology (a variety of data from global climate to resource distribution to ancient soil).

Exhibit Objects

Our research investigates ancient environments associated with archaeological sites and the use of plants, animals and landscapes by the people who once inhabited these sites. We are interested in the impact people had on the world around them, and the way ancient peoples perceived and were affected by their surroundings and the plants and animals on which they relied.

*Collection information was accurate at the time the exhibit was on display in 2017. Please visit the collection website for updated holdings information.