The Fight for Our History: How The Devastating Effects of Climate Change are Affecting Archaeological Sites

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What could be more important than discovering what it means to be human? Archaeological sites are the best resource to find information from our history through physical remains, artifacts, and evidence of past ecology. Archaeological sites contain evidence of past human activity leaving behind the story of their lives through artifacts.

Although sea-level rise can be a natural geologic phenomenon, even a slight rise in sea level can severely erode archaeological sites or cover them completely. Coastal areas and their adjacent waterways are popular places for human settlement, but unfortunately due to climate change-related sea level rise many of them or at risk of being destroyed.

Sea level rise can affect coastal areas by causing shoreline erosion, inundation, and increasing flooding events. Ironically, one of the reasons that archaeological sites located along the coast are so important is because they can help us understand climate change that happened in the past and how people responded to it. Studying our past is imperative in order to truly understand human origins, culture, and behavior. Because coastal areas have been so densely populated, a large percentage of archaeology sites are located there and the recent trend in climate change-related sea-level rise is becoming a growing problem for these sites.

Current projections for future sea-level rise indicate catastrophic results for archaeological sites at and near the coast of the U.S.A.

Sites, located along the Pacific Northwest particularly, contain a wealth of historical and archaeological material that could potentially help us understand who the first people who came to the Americas. It’s coastline forms a dynamic landscape, prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mudflows, and sea-level fluctuation.

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There have already been countless numbers of archaeological sites submerged underwater across the world, and with the projected sea-level rise for the next decade, even more, sites are at risk of being lost.

Washington state’s archaeological heritage spans over 12,000 years dating back to the arrival of the first humans who crossed the land bridge in the Bering Sea (Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation). These sites can range from prehistoric campsites, caves, petroglyphs, and burials to fur trade sites, historic buildings, and cemeteries.

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation recognizes that archaeological sites are a non-renewable resource that contributes to our sense of history and place and defines our collective shared heritage (Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation).

Sites that are located at or below 1m in elevation are at immediate risk making them a priority for preservation.

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So what can we do?

In order to prevent any further loss of coastal sites, we need an increased effort across disciplines and tribal owners. Strategies need to influence policymaking and produce funds to document, excavate or relocate sites when possible. We have to work together as a whole to simultaneously minimize carbon emissions and prioritize these precious resources. Public awareness and involvement are key to working toward an effective solution.

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