Archaeomorphology and the social construction of rockshelters : Nawarla Gabarnmang (Australia)
Résumé
Understanding the roles of natural and human processes in the formation and construction of rock art sites has long been a major objective in archaeological research. The focus is on the geomorphology, which, though the analysis of the physical evolution of archaeological sites, explores the roles of morphogenic processes and other agents, including anthropogenic ones. This dimension of a geomorphological approach, consists of an nterrogation of the role of humans in the morphology of the sites studied, as well as the status of the objects present within them. Research conducted at decorated sites, such as the site of Nawarla Gabarnmang (Arnhem Land, Australia) lead to propose the concept of "anthropogeomorphology". Ahigh spatial resolution geomorphological cartography as well as archaeological data and a 3D modeling tool has enable to show the important anthropogenic contribution in the modification of this site over a 40.000 years period of time.