Human and natural formation processes in quaternary sediments, soils and archaeological sites. A micromorphological and interdisciplinary approach.

The compilation of selected research works (1999-2012) allows an insight to the variety of geological, pedological, biotic and anthropogenic processes that influenced the formation of natural sediments and archaeological deposits. In the framework of studies of natural and archaeological sites, a broad spectrum of sediment types were recorded that were the product of different formation and taphonomic processes. All cases presented in this work are based on field-work followed by geological-pedological laboratory analysis, micromorphological interpretation and an interdisciplinary collaboration with neighbouring disciplines, such as archaeobotany, palynology, radiometric dating methods, malacology, archaeozoology and archaeology (interpretation of archaeological context). The following selection of articles and book contributions gives an overview of the formation processes from both on-site and off-site situations.