The challenges and future of environmental archaeology in Mauritius

Pluskowski, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4494-7664, Brown, A. and Seetah, K. (2024) The challenges and future of environmental archaeology in Mauritius. International Journal of Historical Archaeology. ISSN 1573-7748 doi: 10.1007/s10761-023-00727-1

Abstract/Summary

This paper considers the value of past and prospective applications of key environmental archaeological and earth science fields relating to the historical ecology of Mauritius and the Mascarene islands more broadly: palaeoecology, geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology and climate studies. The contribution of each sub-field is outlined with the aim of demonstrating the potential value of an integrated environmental archaeological approach for developing a long-term understanding of the human ecology of Mauritius and its associated islands. The paper considers the potential and limitations of existing approaches and data, as well as future challenges. Beyond solely reconstructing the nuances of anthropogenic impact on the environment in relation to the island’s history of settlement, we argue that environmental archaeology can contribute to an understanding of ‘biocultural diversity’ as an integral element of Mauritian heritage, bridging the divide between cultural and natural heritage.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/114566
Identification Number/DOI	10.1007/s10761-023-00727-1
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	Springer
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