Ecology

The study of entire assemblages of living organisms and their physical milieus, which together constitute an integrated system. In archaeology, ecology seeks to reconstruct the past environment of man and his impact upon it. The term encompasses the relationship of plants and animals with their environment - climate, geology, soils, vegetation, other animals, man-made structures. Environmental archaeology is concerned with the ecology of man, but also with the ecology of other animals and plants living in the same environment.

The relationship of plants and animals with their environment. The environment in this sense consists not only of climate, but also geology, soils, vegetation, other animals, man-made structures—anything that impinges on the organism being studied. Environmental archaeology is concerned not only with the ecology of man himself, but also with the ecology of other animals and plants living in the same environment.