Open AccessThe Role of Historical Context in Understanding Past Climate, Pollution and Health Data in Trans‐disciplinary Studies: Reply to Comments on More et al., 2017
Author(s) -
More Alexander F.,
Spaulding Nicole E.,
Bohleber Pascal,
Handley Michael J.,
Hoffmann Helene,
Korotkikh Elena V.,
Kurbatov Andrei V.,
Loveluck Christopher P.,
Sneed Sharon B.,
McCormick Michael,
Mayewski Paul A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geohealth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2471-1403
DOI - 10.1029/2017gh000121
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , discipline , human health , scientific evidence , history , geography , epistemology , sociology , social science , archaeology , environmental health , medicine , philosophy
Understanding the context from which evidence emerges is of paramount importance in reaching robust conclusions in scientific inquiries. This is as true of the present as it is of the past. In a trans-disciplinary study such as More et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GH000064) and many others appearing in this and similar journals, a proper analysis of context demands the use of historical evidence. This includes demographic, epidemiological, and socio-economic data-common in many studies of the impact of anthropogenic pollution on human health-and, as in this specific case, also geoarchaeological evidence. These records anchor climate and pollution data in the geographic and human circumstances of history, without which we lose a fundamental understanding of the data itself. This article addresses Hinkley (2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GH000105) by highlighting the importance of context, focusing on the historical and archaeological evidence, and then discussing atmospheric deposition and circulation in the specific region of our study. Since many of the assertions in Bindler (2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2018GH000135) are congruent with our findings and directly contradict Hinkley (2018), this reply refers to Bindler (2018), whenever appropriate, and indicates where our evidence diverges.