Above and Below the Sea: Coastal Ecosystems and Submerged Paleolandscapes in Prehistoric Archaeology and Marine Geology

The settlement of coastlines and the use of marine food resources, often collectively referred to as coastal adaptations, feature prominently in global prehistoric archaeology. Debates encompass the role of coastal ecosystems in the evolution of Homo sapiens and other hominin species, the early peopling of continents and islands, and the socio-cultural and economic transitions in past societies associated with these adaptations. The coastlines and oceans at the heart of these debates are not static entities; rather, they are dynamic and complex ecological systems shaped by geomorphological processes and fluctuations in climate, sea levels, and associated biota. Due to global sea-level fluctuations during the Pleistocene and Holocene, however, much of the evidence for past human use of these dynamic coastal environments is now submerged, necessitating approaches that enable access to these paleolandscapes. On a global scale, there is a need for more interdisciplinary, diachronic, and integrative studies examining the varying roles of coastlines and marine resources in human evolution and past societies. Such research should ideally consider evidence from both above and below the present sea levels. Recent studies have demonstrated the significant potential of combining terrestrial knowledge with insights from underwater archaeology and marine geology. These holistic approaches can transform our understanding of past marine ecosystems and their use by humans, with submerged paleolandscapes offering unique perspectives on, at times, entirely novel ecosystems without modern analogues.How did humans in the past live along coastlines and use marine resources? What role did these behaviors play in human history and evolution? In what ways did marine geology, coastal ecology (both marine and terrestrial), and climate change influence the societies that inhabited these environments, and what impact did humans themselves have on coastal ecosystems? How can we best access and reconstruct now-submerged paleolandscapes and their associated archaeological and paleontological evidence? What new methodological developments in underwater archaeology and marine geology support this goal, and how can they best be combined to study past human use of coastal ecosystems?This Research Topic aims to bring together a series of articles that adopt a deep-time, diachronic, and multidisciplinary perspective on the relationships between humans, coastlines, and oceans, including their ecological, geographical, and geological dimensions. A central focus is the integration of evidence from both above and below the present sea level, as well as from multiple disciplines engaged with this subject. Another key theme is the interplay between changing landscapes, climate, ecology, and human behavior, including the deep history of anthropogenic modifications of coastal and marine ecosystems and their ongoing effects on human societies.This Research Topic welcomes contributions from a range of relevant disciplines, including but not limited to Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Geography, Historical Ecology, Paleontology and Paleoecology, Paleoanthropology, and Paleoenvironmental Sciences. Its geographical scope encompasses coastal and marine ecosystems worldwide, with a temporal focus on prehistoric periods of the Pleistocene and Holocene. Accepted article types include general reviews, specific case or site studies, as well as method-driven research and regional or chronological overviews. For all article types, contributions focusing on underwater archaeology or the reconstruction of submerged paleolandscapes are particularly welcome.• Case studies should address critical gaps in key regions and periods from archaeological, ecological, and/or geological perspectives, ideally adopting a multidisciplinary and diachronic approach.• Reviews should synthesize the current state of the art, including empirical data and future research directions, within a broader spatio-temporal framework. Multidisciplinary perspectives and new theoretical concepts are strongly encouraged.• Methodological articles should present cutting-edge approaches to the study and reconstruction of past interactions between humans, environments, and geological systems in coastal and marine contexts. Standalone methodological articles on underwater archaeology or submerged paleolandscapes are possible. Topic editors: Jon McVey Erlandson, Andrew Green, Manuel Will, Rachel Bynoe Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80456/above-and-below-the-sea-coastal-ecosystems-and-submerged-paleolandscapes-in-prehistoric-archaeology-and-marine-geology