Archaeology and social processes

The research line (RL) understands Archaeology as a knowledge-builder about social formations and historical processes by analysing their material and spatial remains. Different forms of social relations, from the technological and productive spheres to the symbolic world are liable to be understood through Archaeology.

These issues are studied through a wide variety of approaches. They all have, however, a common ground: the interpretation of historical realities beyond mere object analysis. The RL pursues the development of new techniques and the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation in analysing and managing new forms of data. Heritage must be integrated as a goal into the scientific process from its inception.

This theoretical and methodological identity is the fundamental definer of the RL. However, given the scientific trajectories of the research groups involved, the study of pre-modern societies is an additional point in common.



Within the RL there are six sub-lines or research groups:

• Past environmental changes, subsistence and cultural processes
• Iconography, Landscape and Social Processes
• History of Technology: Archaeometallurgy (RG Arqueometal)
• Archaeometry and conservation of glasses and ceramic materials
• Landscape Archaeology. Ancient Rural Societies and Territories/Social Structure and Territory-Landscape Archaeology (SST-LA)
• Social Archaeology. Comparative Studies of Early Complex Societies

Fundamental to the RL are the R+D Archaeology Laboratories, which offer the technical and analytical means necessary for developing the scientific strategies of the research groups associated. They are organized in four units:

• Archaeobiology Lab (ArqBio)
• Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Lab (MicroLab)
• Materials Archaeometry Lab (LAM)
• Landscape Archaeology and Remote Sensing Lab (LabTel)