Climate change archaeology: Where are we and where do we go?

Session Hosting Format: 
in-person session
Organizer(s): 
  • Andrea Richardson, Robin Woywitka, Christian Thériault
Session Description (300 word max): 

Hazards associated with climate change are destroying cultural heritage sites and landscapes at increasing rates across the globe. The Canadian archaeological record is at particular risk because most sites are preserved in surface or shallowly buried settings that have high exposure to erosional forces associated with fire, extreme weather events, floods, permafrost thaw, and rising sea levels. The severity of this was recognized in the CAA’s 2022 statement on climate change archaeology. Calls to action in that document recommended that archaeologists should: 1) act now, 2) work collaboratively, 3) adopt new methods, 4) gather more data, 5) be advocates for threatened archaeological heritage. We welcome contributions that address any of these calls and other relevant studies. A discussion panel of invited speakers will conclude the session.