Abstract

Geological methods and concepts belong to the very core of scientific archaeology since its origins in the 19th century. Geoarchaeology is therefore a part of archaeological research rather than an "ancillary technique", and is characterized by a markedly multiscalar approach. The acquisition of data ranges in fact from the observation of single mineral grains under a scanning electron microscope to the use of geological maps representing vast areas. Geoarchaeology is therefore carried out moving along a continuum of interconnected scales of observation. A series of practical examples will be employed to demonstrate the possibilities of this multiscalar approach, also in urban archaeological contexts.