Actioning Climate Change Archaeology

Session Hosting Format: 
in-person session
Organizer(s): 
  • Robin Woywitka, MacEwan University
  • Andrea Richardson, Cape Sable Historical Society
Contact Email: 
woywitkar@macewan.ca
Session Description (300 word max): 

Anthropogenic climate change is driving processes that are irreversibly destroying the archaeological record of Canada. Specific descriptions of the magnitude, intensity, and response to these losses are provided in the Histories Unravelling: Climate Change and Archaeology thematic session at this meeting. This symposium will build on Histories Unravelling by providing a forum to discuss broader approaches to climate change archaeology across Canada. The immense scale and immediate urgency of the climate change archaeology crisis is recognized in the CAA 2022 Statement on Climate Change and Archaeology. The statement culminates in five calls to action that state archaeologists should: 1) act now, 2) work collaboratively, 3) adopt new methods, 4) gather new data, and 5) be advocates for threatened archaeological heritage. These calls to action will be the framework for an open discussion guided by a small panel. Anyone interested in climate change archaeology is welcome to attend.

Presentations
Citizen monitoring of eroding coastal archaeological sites: current perspectives
Presentation format: In-Person
Author(s):
  • Marie-Eve Morissette - Laboratoire d'archéologie et de patrimoine, Université du Québec à Rimouski
  • Manon Savard - Laboratoire d'archéologie et de patrimoine, Université du Québec à Rimouski
  • Nicolas Beaudry - Laboratoire d'archéologie et de patrimoine, Université du Québec à Rimouski

The St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf have been occupied for more than 10.000 years and are one of the cradles of the settlement of the Canadian territory. The successive occupations of their coasts have left traces that today constitute a rich archaeological archive. However, a significant part of this precious heritage is affected by coastal erosion, which is accelerating due to climate change and the anthropization of the banks. Its management requires difficult compromises between data acquisition and the protection of fragile environments. Regular monitoring would allow the documentation of this heritage without accelerating its erosion, but it would require an investment that archaeologists alone cannot provide, hence the interest of calling in the public. However, a citizen science approach requires methods and protocols that are compatible with current regulations, can deliver quality data and allow for optimal management of the archaeological resource. This paper discusses and compares projects that have involved the public in documenting coastal archaeological heritage at risk in North America and Europe. Their experience will contribute to the development of a pilot project in the St. Lawrence Estuary to be implemented in the summer of 2025.
Coastal Heritage and Climate Change: Action for Resilient Communities
Presentation format: In-Person
Author(s):
  • Catherine Losier - Department of Archaeology, Memorial University
  • Manon Savard - Laboratoire d'archéologie et de patrimoine, Université du Québec à Rimouski
  • Marie-Ange Croft - Laboratoire d'archéologie et de patrimoine, Université du Québec à Rimouski

In eastern Canada, the St. Lawrence River, its estuary and the Gulf, and the Northwestern Atlantic have shaped human settlements, cultures, and identities. This maritime territory remains central to our collective memory and national heritage. While climatic and environmental concerns have driven advancements in marine and coastal sciences, heritage issues are often overlooked. The Transforming Climate Action initiative unites researchers from natural and social sciences, engineering, and health sciences at Dalhousie, Laval, UQAR, and Memorial University to develop climate change actions for the North Atlantic Ocean and its coastal regions. This initiative offers researchers from UQAR and Memorial University a unique opportunity to contribute to a major interdisciplinary project, advancing archaeological methods and knowledge to address climate change challenges and to document the resilience of past and present communities. As tourism grows in today’s transitioning economy, archaeological heritage—threatened by coastal erosion—becomes an invaluable resource. It must be documented, preserved, or, in some cases, consciously abandoned, with potential benefits for local communities. This paper introduces The Future of Coastal Communities research cluster and its associated projects, highlighting the critical role of archaeology in understanding and responding to climate change in coastal regions.