Evaluating Quoddy Region archaeological site vulnerability to sea-level rise and erosion through the integration of geographic information system modeling and surveys

Abstract

Modeling archaeological site erosion often depends on regional site databases that record sites accurately but with variable precision. This study examines the impact of sea-level rise (SLR) on 10 archaeological sites in the Quoddy Region of Maine through comparing models and field observations. Sites were categorized as low, mid, or high priority for field excavation based on exposure to tides. These model results were compared to field reports of site condition to evaluate the accuracy of modeling SLR as an indicator of erosion and to evaluate the application of models in developing prioritization protocols for site investigations. Models for current sea level scenarios broadly underestimate the degree of erosion reported by field observations because not all site locations were recorded at the precision required for analysis. This study emphasizes the importance of field audits for sites recorded in databases to enable large-scale modeling for the prioritization of urgently threatened sites.