Can archaeopedology learn from the extension drama in soil survey and cartography?
Roger Langohr Archaeopedologists are aware that, given the nature of soils, archaeopedology can contribute positively to environmental research on archaeological sites, just as palynology, malacology, anthracology and many other disciplines can. Nevertheless, there are difficulties in integrating soil science as a necessary partner in archaeological research. About the same sequence of statements can be made when it comes to integrate soil science in numerous research projects dealing with topics such as plant ecology, forestry, ecosystem dynamics, nature reserve management, land reclamation etc. Why does soil science integrate so badly? Several handicaps are related to the discipline itself. Other problems are rather related to the soil scientists themselves. We focus the attention first to the situation that we experienced along the “golden period” of the soil survey from the fifties to the seventies. In addition to these aspects related to the soil cartography, there is an additiona
