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International Workshop on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology (WASM)

2-4 Sep 2019

Basel, Switzerland

 

Fotos by M. Zickel and E. Hensel

The aim of the International Workshop on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology is to connect scientists from different research fields, e.g. micromorphology, geosciences, and archaeology. With a GSGS travel grant, I had the opportunity to participate at this year's workshop in Basel and to present the micromorphological thin sections I work with. Micromorphology is a microscopic study of soil and sediment thin sections to investigate for example deposition and post-deposition processes in archaeological stratigraphies. During the workshop all participants had the opportunity to discuss their work with other micromorphologists and to observe each other’s thin sections by polarization microscopy. Active discussions at the microscopes and posters clarified research questions, but added also new exciting questions.

During the first day I presented my poster with preliminary results in a small presentation in front of the audience. Thus, the following days remained for the discussion of the results and hypotheses on the posters. For my doctoral thesis at the Sodicho Rockshelter in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia, I used sedimentological and geochemical analyses as well as micromorphology to reconstruct site formation processes and to investigate the past influence of the environment and humans on the deposits. Of course, the workshop also offered time to actively maintain and expand my own network and to get to know current micromorphological research from all over the world.

I would like to thank the GSGS for financing my trip to Basel. As a young scientist, the direct discussion of the interpretations on the thin sections gave me a lot of new insights into micromorphology. New ideas and information that I have gained through the workshop can be linked to my work and will be helpful for future thin sections of the Sodicho Rockshelter.

Elena Amelie Hensel
PhD student 
PhD project: “Geoarchaeological analyses and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in southwest Ethiopia” 
Institute of Geography
Paleoenvironmental changes at the Sodicho Rockshelter – first insights into site formation processes (Poster)