Living in Wet Environments

Muddying the divide between land and water

This interdisciplinary collection delves into the experiences and meanings of life in environments where water levels and availability are in constant flux.

Muddying the divide between land and water

This interdisciplinary collection delves into the experiences and meanings of life in environments where water levels and availability are in constant flux. Amphibious Anthropologies brings together a global set of case studies, from Italy’s historic marshes to the tidal pools of the Bahamas, to show how living with unpredictable wetness has become crucial in the age of climate crisis. The book introduces “amphibious anthropologies” as a framework to challenge the dichotomy of water and land and interrogate spaces marked by rapid and profound environmental change. It brings to light the everyday creativity and uncertainty in wet environments like California’s Salton Sea and India’s North Bihar floodplain. Engaging with disciplines like anthropology, geography, and STS, this work offers a timely discourse on environmental change and resilience.