Managing the physical quality of buried archaeological sites in the frame work of changing climate conditions

MARTINE M. VAN DEN BERG, ADRIAAN M.J. DE KRAKER, MICHEL VORENHOUT
University Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This presentation focuses on the issue of how to manage buried archaeological sites under changing climate conditions. In the lower located areas in northwestern Europe, direct and indirect effects of climatic changes can be expected. Direct effects are for example an increasing amount of, and more irregular rainfall. Indirect effects are the man induced adaptations in terms of water management, such as the designation of flooding and retention areas. Adaptations of this kind along with the economic consequences and effects for residential areas are thoroughly studied and subject of political debate. It is very likely that these adaptations in water management will have both positive and negative consequences for the physical quality of buried archaeological remains, an aspect that has been much neglected so far. The physical quality and preservation of the remains is closely connected with soil conditions such as the amount of water saturation and the pH. Being wetlands, soil conditions within the lower parts of the Netherlands easily respond to even subtle changes in climate conditions, water management and land use. This can enhance preservation but also trigger the physical degradation of ‘safely stored’ sites by natural processes such as rusting of metal coins and rotting of wooden objects. The Institute for Geo- and BioArchaeology (IGBA) is involved in various projects concerning climate change, land use and heritage management; three of them are presented. 1) Water and Archaeology was a top-down study on climate change, planned adaptations of the Dutch water-household and possible effects on buried archaeological remains. 2) The Strategic Partnership on RiverCorridors (SPARC) enabled us to perform a bottom-up study on nature restoration and buried archaeological remains in the landscape. 3) In The Province of Drenthe water retention and nature is planned, IGBA tries to raise awareness for the benefits of monitoring the soil conditions.