Climate change and the loss of archaeological sites and landscapes: a global perspective

Hollesen, Jørgen

doi:10.15184/aqy.2022.113

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Moreover, hard engineering solutions may also be inadvisable considering the sensitive nature of the local sedimentary regime, as demonstrated by the effect of sand mining. Therefore, the likelihood of ‘active preservation’ will be on a case-by-case basis and probably only for the most significant or valuable sites (which itself must be determined in consultation with local stakeholders) [ 101 ]. Most likely, it will have to be accepted that some sites or parts of these sites will be lost (see for example [ 102 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

et al. 2023

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Coastal erosion in Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya) represents a major problem for archaeology and heritage management. The area is rich in archaeological sites, often understudied or not fully documented, but also has extensive stretches of vulnerable eroding coastline. This study demonstrates the extent and impact of erosion via shoreline change assessment at two spatial scales. Firstly, wide area assessment using shorelines extracted from a time-series of medium-resolution Landsat imagery. Secondly, site-specific assessment using recent and historic Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. In both cases, extracted shorelines at different timesteps were compared using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool to quantify rates and magnitudes of shoreline movement. The results show extensive zones of erosion at and around the key ancient harbour sites of Apollonia, Ptolemais and Tocra. They also suggest increased rates of coastal retreat in recent years, which is likely linked to anthropogenic actions such as sand mining and urbanization. Forecasts based on present-day shoreline change rates, coupled with ground-level documentation of the vulnerable shorelines is used to identify archaeological features and structures which will likely be progressively damaged or destroyed over the next 20 years. The ability to actively protect archaeological sites is unclear, but there is a clear need for mitigation in the form of enhanced awareness of environmental problems (e.g. caused by sand mining) and more intensive survey/documentation of sites and areas which will be lost in the coming years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

et al. 2023

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“…A data integration service would turn this equation on its head, allowing models to be built with the entirety of existing site data, to have greater spatial scope, and to be available in a timely manner for project planning. Landscape Management : During the twenty-first century, the United States will witness land disturbance on a scale never seen before. Climate-induced changes in sea levels, storm surges, forest fires, hurricanes, and flood events will affect hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of sites (Heilen 2020; Hollesen 2022). Land modifications resulting from infrastructure improvement, resource extraction, urban development, and energy production and distribution also will affect sites on scales heretofore unimagined.…”

Section: Is a Data Integration Service Worth The Effort?mentioning

confidence: 99%

What North American Archaeology Needs to Take Advantage of the Digital Data Revolution

Ortman

Altschul²

2023

Adv. archaeol. pract.

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Today, there is a growing movement to use accumulated archaeological information to contribute to discussions of general issues facing human societies, including our own. In this regard, the archaeological record is most unique and helpful when viewed at broad comparative scales. Most relevant data for these sorts of analyses are collected through the cultural resource management (CRM) process. Still, by and large, interpretation remains limited to individual projects, and data integration across projects is nearly nonexistent. What would it take for CRM to achieve real data integration? In this article, we discuss these issues and suggest one potential solution. The most pressing need we identify is for data products that integrate the primary data emanating from CRM at broad spatial and temporal scales, which are suitable for research by archaeologists and other social scientists. We argue that the time is right for the discipline to invest in organizations that produce such products.

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“…Climate change is influencing archaeological sites and landscapes on a global scale 1 , 2 , with a particularly significant impact in the Arctic 3 , 4 . A growing number of the region's ancient sites and structures are currently deteriorating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the consequences of recent climate change on World Heritage sites in South Greenland

Hollesen,

Jepsen,

Stendel

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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In the Arctic region, microbial degradation poses a significant threat to the preservation of archaeological deposits, actively consuming irreplaceable cultural and environmental records. In this study we assess the potential effects of the last 40 years of climate change on organic archaeological deposits within the UNESCO World Heritage area Kujataa in South Greenland. We use the dynamic process-oriented model, CoupModel to simulate soil temperatures and soil moisture contents at four archaeological sites in the area. The results show that the organic deposits have experienced a substantial warming the last 40 years, which combined with decreasing soil moisture contents creates a dangerous combination that can accelerate the degradation of organic materials. Currently, there are 583 archaeological sites registered within the area. Our findings highlight that the current climatic conditions are not conducive to organic preservation. The greatest risk of degradation lies within the relatively dry continental inland areas of the study region, where all Norse Viking Age settlements are situated. However, even at the "cold" and "wet" outer coast, the combined effects of rising summer temperatures and declining soil moisture levels may already be exerting a noticeable impact.

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Climate change and the loss of archaeological sites and landscapes: a global perspective

Cited by 10 publications

References 48 publications

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

What North American Archaeology Needs to Take Advantage of the Digital Data Revolution

Assessing the consequences of recent climate change on World Heritage sites in South Greenland

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