Studying the Past for the Future: Managing Modern Biodiversity from Historic and Prehistoric Data

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Human Organization (HO)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.17730/humo.69.2.355u461568976672· OSTI ID:990707

Foster, Professor Thomas ^[1]; Olsen, Lisa M ^[2]; Dale, Virginia H ^[2]; Chen, Alice ^[3]

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1. University of West Georgia, Carrollton
2. ORNL
3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Management of biodiversity and anthropogenic effects on the environment are some of the most difficult challenges facing humans today. In this paper, we describe how archaeological, historical, and ecological data can be combined to identify metrics of ecological change. Archaeological surveys, historic witness tree data, analysis of ancient pollen, and recent satellite imagery are combined to create indicators of change that are useable by modem environmental managers at Fort Benning Military Reservation in Georgia and Alabama in the United States. Archaeological data were collected at 30 meter intervals, historic vegetation data were collected from early nineteenth century survey maps, and ancient pollen and charcoal were collected from soil cores in lakes. We show how data sets collected with disparate goals from anthropology and ecology can be applied to make policy decisions about environmental management.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: EE USDOE - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 990707
• Journal Information: Human Organization (HO), Journal Name: Human Organization (HO) Journal Issue: 00187259 Vol. 69
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANTHROPOLOGY
CHARCOAL
ECOLOGY
LAKES
MANAGEMENT
METERS
METRICS
PLANTS
POLLEN
SATELLITES
SOILS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
TREES