Archaeopedology and micropedology are indispensable tools for contributing to an understanding of archaeological stratigraphy: both soil and archaeological deposit formation are connected to exposed or buried surfaces and they often are superimposed upon each other. Because of this archaeopedology and micropedology can often help not only in palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions related to the different periods of human occupation, but also can provide evidence for human impact on natural soils and environment (e.g. deforestation, reclamation, terracing). In addition, at the site scale of observation, they can be used in order to identify site formation processes and the different types of past human activities, and they can also help to explain post occupational processes or site taphonomy.
The aim of this session is to promote multi-disciplinary research on archaeologically related soils at different scales of observation, including the microscopic and ultramicroscopic. Contributions are invited from soil scientists and geoarchaeologists who deal with the many aspects of soil science as applied to archaeological questions.