Urban geoarchaeology in Belgium: Experiences and innovations

Abstract

Geoarchaeological research in urban contexts is a relatively recent development in Belgian geoarchaeology, with pioneering studies dating back to the 1990s. In the beginning of the 21st century, a specific research protocol was developed in Brussels, and in the last years, there have been several attempts to apply a similar approach to urban contexts in Flanders and occasionally in Wallonia. Current debates in urban geoarchaeology mainly focus on: – The study of site stratigraphy (microstratified layers and Dark Earths) – The impact of urbanization on the soil – Rivers in towns – Reconstruction of the ancient relief and its modifications through time – Soil erosion and soil protection – Ancient soil pollution – The integration of geoarchaeology with other archaeo-environmental studies (archaeobotany, archaeozoology, etc.). Key themes for the future development of Belgian urban geoarchaeology include the in situ preservation of sites; a further integration with other methods and method development; systematic studies producing topographical insight and mapping; and synthesis work on critical issues.