At the International Mountain Conference (IMC) in Innsbruck, researchers from the University of Innsbruck are providing insights into their work on mountain environments. Geologist Michael Meyer presented on long-term human–environment interactions in mountain regions, spanning from prehistory to the present.
Together with colleagues from Europe and the US, Meyer organized sessions on Mountain (Geo)Archaeology. The aim is to better understand how historical use of mountain landscapes has shaped today’s ecosystems and geomorphological systems.
Meyer and PhD student Sarah Schaffer also introduced new methodological advances in Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating, which allows previously undatable prehistoric stone tools and artifacts to be precisely dated—an essential step for reconstructing settlement and landscape dynamics.
About Michael Meyer:
Michael Meyer studied and earned his PhD at the University of Innsbruck, where he is now Associate Professor of Geology. He leads the Innsbruck Quaternary Research Group and the OSL laboratory, with research focused on dating techniques that shed light on landscape evolution, environmental change, and human–environment relationships in prehistoric times.