The experiences of all humans are tied to the Earth, its processes and materials, and an understanding of this relationship is critical to the ability of individuals and society to make informed decisions about environmental issues. Unfortunately, the current level of earth-science illiteracy in the United States indicates that the nature and history of human- environment interactions is not adequately understood. The proposed research represents the initial stages of an interdisciplinary program to review and analyze aspects of the interaction between humans and the environment in North America from a geologic perspective. Focusing initially on the American Southwest, this study will examine the idea that the physical environment and its study directly influenced human (Native American and Euro-American) perceptions of landscape and, in turn, land use through time. The record of human-environment interactions will be evaluated using historical review of geologic studies and other primary and secondary literature (e.g., in anthropology, history, or geography), and field study. The proposed program will contribute a geologic context by which Earth-human interactions through time can be considered. The interdisciplinary nature of this study also has the potential to increase the accessibility of earth science to a wider, more culturally diverse audience.
