Articulating Loss: A Thematic Framework for Understanding Coastal Heritage Transformations

Abstract

The coast is a dynamic landscape characterised by change. Although coastal change can provide opportunities to engage with the past as archaeological sites are exposed and uncovered, it also means that climate change pressures are likely to exacerbate and accelerate the inevitable loss of coastal heritage. Many projects and initiatives focus on protecting and saving threatened sites, but there has been less attention to developing tools that will help the heritage profession manage and communicate about loss. New strategies are needed to help heritage professionals engage with communities confronted with the vulnerability of valued coastal heritage sites, and to counter perceptions of mismanagement and misunderstanding. This paper aims to develop language to better articulate the ways in which change and loss are likely to be experienced at coastal heritage sites, so that the challenges and opportunities presented by each situation may be fully appreciated by heritage managers and communities navigating these changes. It does not address the question of how to preserve and protect, but conversely seeks to explore how to respond to and understand loss.

Towards a climate‐smart cultural heritage management

“…For the WHS system, which relies heavily on concepts of defined values, integrity, and authenticity-as is the case with most heritage policies-the idea of transformation to a new state more compatible with a changing climate is extremely challenging. On the other hand, local heritage actors began to respond to the challenges and increasing democratization of heritage values through citizen science and community participation, highlighting some of the transformative opportunities that exist in heritage sector (Morel et al, 2022;Venture et al, 2021). This potential is well illustrated by the Climate Heritage Network (CHN) Action Plan for 2022-2024 which aims to amplify the power of arts, culture, and heritage and to assist people in imagining and realizing low-carbon and climate-resilient futures.…”

“…Approaches and methods also need to be developed to estimate the magnitude, timing, and noneconomic costs of the expected loss of diverse cultural heritage. Venture et al (2021) call for investigating heritage loss where cultural heritage persists through processes of transformation rather than a process of ultimate loss.…”

Strategies for meaningful engagement: A commentary on collaboration in archaeological climate adaptation planning

“…The impacts of these stressors to sites are also being documented with more frequency, such as the deterioration of materials from increasingly salinized soils and extreme fires (Gruber 2011), and the displacement and loss of materials and physical context from erosion caused by riverine flooding (Howard et al 2016), storm surge (Pollard-Belsheim et al 2014), and sea level rise (Papadopoulos et al 2021). On federal lands, climate adaptation guidance for archaeological sites typically focuses on minimizing physical deterioration or loss given management agencies' mandate of responsible cultural heritage stewardship (Rockman et al 2016;Venture et al 2021). Yet, many archaeological sites require unique climate adaptation planning and management because of their connection to sovereign Tribal Nations 1 and the consequential sensitivity of data and locational information associated with pre-contact sites (Wildcat 2013).…”