Abstract:The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has documented wide-ranging changes to the world's coasts and oceans, with significant further change predicted. Impacts on coastal and underwater heritage sites, however, remain relatively poorly understood. The authors draw on 30 years of research into coastal and underwater archaeological sites to highlight some of the interrelated processes of deterioration and damage. Emphasising the need for closer collaboration between, on one hand, archaeologists and cultur… Show more
“…The effects from sea-level rise on intertidal and coastal archaeological sites are discussed in a range of articles (e.g. Carmichael et al 2018;Elliott & Williams 2019;Gregory et al 2022), but few of these focus specifically on wetland archaeology. Where wetland sites are exposed in the inter-tidal zone (e.g.…”
Section: Sea-level Risementioning
confidence: 99%
“…2018; Elliott & Williams 2019; Gregory et al . 2022), but few of these focus specifically on wetland archaeology. Where wetland sites are exposed in the inter-tidal zone (e.g.…”
Section: Threats To Archaeological Sites In Wetlands That May Be Infl...mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…What all these examples share, however, is the decisive role played by water in the preservation of their archaeological materials. More broadly, this contribution forms part of a series of articles on the effects of climate change on archaeological sites in different environments, including the Arctic (Hollesen et al 2018) and marine and coastal environments (Gregory et al 2022). Notably, while climate change in these other environments has predominantly negative effects on archaeological preservation, with limited options for mitigation, the effects of climate change on wetland archaeology are more variable and, in some cases, may even directly or indirectly benefit preservation.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…2018) and marine and coastal environments (Gregory et al . 2022). Notably, while climate change in these other environments has predominantly negative effects on archaeological preservation, with limited options for mitigation, the effects of climate change on wetland archaeology are more variable and, in some cases, may even directly or indirectly benefit preservation.…”
Wetland archaeological sites offer excellent but vulnerable preservation conditions. This article presents examples of threats to such sites that may be enhanced, or diminished, by climate change, discusses methods for predicting and quantifying impacts, and examines what heritage managers can do to mitigate their effects. The consequences of climate change for wetland archaeological sites are likely to be severe and widespread but hard to predict and with significant local variation. At the same time, wetlands are increasingly acknowledged for their ability to sequester carbon and to mitigate climate change, prompting an increased focus on their protection that may also benefit wetland archaeology.
“…The effects from sea-level rise on intertidal and coastal archaeological sites are discussed in a range of articles (e.g. Carmichael et al 2018;Elliott & Williams 2019;Gregory et al 2022), but few of these focus specifically on wetland archaeology. Where wetland sites are exposed in the inter-tidal zone (e.g.…”
Section: Sea-level Risementioning
confidence: 99%
“…2018; Elliott & Williams 2019; Gregory et al . 2022), but few of these focus specifically on wetland archaeology. Where wetland sites are exposed in the inter-tidal zone (e.g.…”
Section: Threats To Archaeological Sites In Wetlands That May Be Infl...mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…What all these examples share, however, is the decisive role played by water in the preservation of their archaeological materials. More broadly, this contribution forms part of a series of articles on the effects of climate change on archaeological sites in different environments, including the Arctic (Hollesen et al 2018) and marine and coastal environments (Gregory et al 2022). Notably, while climate change in these other environments has predominantly negative effects on archaeological preservation, with limited options for mitigation, the effects of climate change on wetland archaeology are more variable and, in some cases, may even directly or indirectly benefit preservation.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…2018) and marine and coastal environments (Gregory et al . 2022). Notably, while climate change in these other environments has predominantly negative effects on archaeological preservation, with limited options for mitigation, the effects of climate change on wetland archaeology are more variable and, in some cases, may even directly or indirectly benefit preservation.…”
Wetland archaeological sites offer excellent but vulnerable preservation conditions. This article presents examples of threats to such sites that may be enhanced, or diminished, by climate change, discusses methods for predicting and quantifying impacts, and examines what heritage managers can do to mitigate their effects. The consequences of climate change for wetland archaeological sites are likely to be severe and widespread but hard to predict and with significant local variation. At the same time, wetlands are increasingly acknowledged for their ability to sequester carbon and to mitigate climate change, prompting an increased focus on their protection that may also benefit wetland archaeology.
“…As well as coastal sites, underwater cultural heritage sites are also susceptible to erosion through wave action. In this special section, Gregory and colleagues (2022) provide an overview of the literature and projects specifically related to understanding how sea-level rise and more intense storms impact both coastal and underwater archaeology. Figure 2.Examples of archaeological sites impacted by coastal erosion: A) the base of Siraf's old city walls on the Persian Gulf of Iran (photograph by M. Pourkerman); B) St Monans, Scotland (photograph by T. Dawson); C) a beach in South Carolina, USA (photograph by T. Dawson); and D) Ahu Akahanga, Rapa Nui (photograph by J. Downes).…”
Section: The Threat Of Climate Change To Archaeological Sitesmentioning
Climate change is affecting archaeological sites and landscapes around the world. Increased rainfall, more frequent extreme weather events, higher temperatures and rising seas not only create new risks but also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and threats. Building on an earlier Antiquity article that explored climate change and arctic archaeology (Hollesen et al.2018), this special section provides a global perspective on the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and landscapes and how archaeologists and cultural heritage managers are responding. This article introduces the following three contributions, outlining their main findings to provide an overview of the various challenges around the world, and highlighting current gaps in knowledge and future research opportunities.
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