Archaeology of Modern Landfills

Archaeologists have long studied garbage (the remains of past societies) in order to both develop theories of behavior and gain overall insight into past cultures. The archaeology of modern landfills emerged from a desire to find out what was behind the media's portrayal of the “garbage crisis” faced by Americans and out of a curiosity about modern material culture. Defined broadly, material culture includes physical things modified by human behavior. Examples include plowed fields, polluted rivers, and modern landfills. In essence, the archaeology of landfills is the “archaeology of us.” Studying contemporary garbage can provide useful insights into current behaviors that can be useful in the present. Learning about what society does now enables people to make changes in behavior now, instead of in the years to come.

The archaeology of landfills stems from the work of behavioral archaeologists. Specifically, the Garbage Project at the University of Arizona spent decades studying the garbage in modern landfills. Garbology (the study of trash and human societies) is carried out by garbologists—archaeologists who examine trash. This branch of archaeology posits that archaeology is the study of the relationships between human behavior and material culture. As such, behavioral archaeology is able to challenge societal myths about consumption patterns. The archaeology of modern landfills has led to myriad [Page 37]insights as well as the ability to debunk many modern garbage myths about what occurs in, and what makes up, landfill content. For example, the excavation of landfills has shown what the true composition of landfills is, and that organic matter does not decompose and biodegrade as many people believed it did. Important findings were discovered about food waste and consumption patterns and the accumulation of paper and construction debris in landfills.

Behavioral archaeologists study the contents of modern landfills to reveal societal practices regarding food waste and consumption. These discoveries can lead to more rapid implementation of practical changes in behavior rather than waiting years for habits to evolve. The Garbage Project has dispelled numerous misconceptions about landfill use that can help individuals and policymakers make better decisions about waste. For example, disposable diapers do not make up a significant percentage of landfill trash, as is commonly believed.