42 In Cahoots: Interdisciplinary Studies of Climate Change Impacts to Archaeological Resources

Tuesday, 22 March 2022
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Commonwealth Salon 4

DOWN BY THE BAY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY NARRATIVE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR PAST

Paper number: 42-4
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 8:50 AM – 9:10 AM

Authors

Abstract

Due to low mean elevation and coastal subsidence, the Delaware Bay is experiencing some of the gravest effects from sea-level rise along the US East Coast. The interdisciplinary WCU Delaware Bay Climate and Archaeology Project has applied the probabilistic model using IPCC RCPs to project future sea-level rise and its effects to coastal sites. Current efforts include presenting results through a series of StoryMaps developed to make technical information accessible and relevant to public audiences and stakeholders; raise awareness to the environmental issues affecting cultural sites; and provide a resource for engaging with threatened cultural heritage. The flexibility of StoryMaps allows narratives to be tailored for specific objectives, such as planning, preservation or education. It also engages a variety of audiences including community stakeholders and Indigenous communities, educators, policy makers, planners, and interdisciplinary professionals. We demonstrate the effectiveness of a narrative approach for integrating scientific modeling, historic preservation concerns, and public outreach on climate change impacts on cultural resources and how a regional approach may bring awareness to an issue of global concern.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022NE-375043

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