The Future by the Sea: Engaging with Maritime Archaeological Research during the Climate Emergency

This volume presents global projects documenting and protecting maritime heritage threatened by climate change. Eight case studies show how small, local initiatives—often led by early‑career researchers—advance sustainability, adaptation and resilience, despite sector challenges and funding constraints.

Heritage assets in and around aquatic environments have already been impacted by climate change effects. Coastal erosion, extreme storminess, storm surges, tidal, fluvial and pluvial flooding, sea-level rise, sea-temperature increase, ocean acidification, frequently in combination with droughts and rising temperatures, and other climate change effects threaten and damage archaeological sites, historic landscapes and buildings. Concurrently, the decline of traditional maritime livelihoods, such as fishing and shipbuilding, and the rise of unsustainable tourism, along with the loss of associated local knowledge within communities and their empirical understanding of maritime regions, have isolated people from their surrounding natural environment and increased their vulnerability to environmental and socioeconomic shocks. This edited volume features projects that have taken action to record, monitor and protect maritime heritage in the face of the climate emergency. The eight chapters showcase completed or ongoing initiatives from distinct parts of the world that illustrate how the discipline of maritime archaeology can contribute to climate action, sustainability, adaptation and climate resilience, while also helping to mitigate some of the risks that heritage is experiencing due to the climate breakdown. While recognising the limitations and challenges brought up by climate change and its socio-economic implications, as well as the defunding of the archaeology and heritage sectors, the projects presented in this book show how talented early career scholars and practitioners can make substantial contributions to communities through volunteering work, small grants, and project-specific academic funding. Overall, each chapter proves how small-scale, local initiatives by passionate people can make a large impact.

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