By Interview with Matthew Vincent by Hala Abu-Maizer
All images used in this article are taken by Matthew Vincent (except the cover image)
Matthew Vincent has over 20 years of dedicated service to the field of archaeology. His work focuses on incorporating new technologies into archaeological practices, enhancing both research and preservation efforts. With extensive experience in excavation and survey projects throughout Jordan, Matthew has played a pivotal role in integrating advanced technological tools such as GIS, photogrammetry, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence into the field. This integration aims to augment traditional archaeological methods, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of historical contexts and engaging a broader audience in the conservation of cultural heritage. Matthew currently lives and works in Jordan, where he co-directs the National Inventory Project at the American Centre of Research.
How is modern climate change affecting the preservation of archaeological sites worldwide?
Imagine the world as a giant book of human history, with each archaeological site a page telling a unique story of our shared global history. Now, imagine climate change as rain falling on this book, blurring the ink and tearing the pages, making it harder for us to read and understand our past. As the planet warms, we’re seeing more extreme weather—bigger storms, longer droughts, and unpredictable floods—all of which pose a threat to these historical pages. For example, rising sea levels are slowly swallowing coastal sites, erasing evidence of ancient coastal civilizations. In places like Venice, the water is not just rising; it’s also bringing more frequent floods that damage historical buildings and artifacts that have stood for centuries. Meanwhile, in colder regions, the permafrost—a frozen archive of ancient life, cultures, and ecosystems—is melting. This thaw not only greenhouse gases but also exposes organic materials like wood, fabric, and even frozen human remains to decay, which once thawed, can rapidly disintegrate. In arid and desert areas, the increasing heat and changing rain patterns are causing the delicate balance that preserved dry sites for millennia to shift, leading to their deterioration.
Each of these effects is like a tear in the pages of our history, making it harder for us to learn from our past. The challenge is not just about preserving these sites from decay, but also about capturing and understanding the stories they tell before they are lost to the impacts of climate change. This battle against time and nature requires innovative solutions, international cooperation, and a commitment to preserving our shared heritage for future generations to explore and learn from.
Can you provide specific examples of archaeological sites that have been notably affected by recent climate change? What challenges are faced in preserving these sites?
As climate change reshapes our planet, it also endangers the treasures of our past. From the waterlogged canals of Veniceto the eroding shores of Easter Island, each site faces unique challenges in thefight for preservation. Here are some poignant examples:
Venice, Italy: The iconic city battles against rising sea levels and more frequent floods, threatening its historical architecture and artifacts. The challenge here involves not just defending against water but ensuring the city’s historical essence is preserved for future generations to experience and learn from.
The Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions: Thawing permafrost is revealing, yet simultaneously endangering, ancient artifacts preserved in ice. The task is to document and conserve these items quickly before they decay, requiring rapid response and innovative preservation techniques.
Mesa Verde National Park, USA: This site, with its ancient cliff dwellings, is threatened by wildfires and erosion, phenomena exacerbated by changing climate patterns. Protecting these structures from natural disasters demands both preventive measures and strategies to enhance their resilience.
Easter Island, Chile: Known for its monumental Moai statues, the island faces coastal erosion and rising sea levels, risks that could lead to the loss of these iconic figures. Efforts to preserve them must balance between combating sea level rise and maintaining the integrity of the island’s cultural landscape.
Petra, Jordan: This marvel of Nabatean architecture is at risk from both flash floods and droughts, threats amplified by climate change. The challenges include managing water flow to prevent erosion during floods, restoring ancient water conservation methods, and employing modern techniques to protect the site under varying conditions.
Preserving these sites is a complex task that goes beyond merely protecting stones and structures; it’s about safeguarding the stories, cultures, and histories they represent. The challenges are as diverse as the climates and geographies these sites inhabit, requiring a mix of engineering, scientific, and cultural strategies. International cooperation, innovative preservation technologies, and local engagement are crucial in ensuring these historical treasures endure for future generations to explore and learn from.
“The challenge is not just about preserving these sites from decay, but also about capturing and understanding the stories they tell before they are lost to the impacts of climate change”
What does cultural heritage mean to you, and why do you think preserving it is important?
To me, cultural heritage is the invisible thread that connects us to our past, weaving through generations to tell the story of who we are, where we’ve come from, and, perhaps, where we’re heading. It’s not just the monumental landmarks, the grandiose palaces, or the ancient ruins that dot landscapes across the globe. Cultural heritage encompasses the languages we speak, the festivals we celebrate, the art we create, and even the food we eat. It’s a living, breathing expression of our shared humanity, a mosaic of diverse cultures, beliefs, and traditions that enrich our global tapestry. Preserving cultural heritage, therefore, is akin to safeguarding our collective memory. It ensures that future generations can learn from these stories, appreciate the diversity of human expression, and understand the historical journeys of different communities. In a rapidly changing world, where globalisation threatens to homogenise our experiences, preserving cultural heritage becomes an act of resistance—a way to maintain uniqueness in the face of uniformity.
Moreover, cultural heritage has the power to foster empathy and understanding among people. By learning about the rituals, customs, and histories of others, we can break down barriers of ignorance and prejudice. It teaches us that, despite our differences, we share common hopes, dreams, and challenges as part of the human experience. In the face of climate change and other modern threats, the importance of preserving cultural heritage becomes even more critical. As we lose physical sites and intangible practices to environmental and societal shifts, we risk losing parts of our identity. Preserving cultural heritage is not just about holding onto the past; it’s about ensuring a richer, more diverse future. It’s about honouring the legacy of those who came before us and passing on a world that appreciates and celebrates the multiplicity of its inhabitants. Cultural heritage is our collective inheritance, and preserving it is our shared responsibility. It’s about keeping the story of humanity alive for future chapters yet to be written.
“To me, cultural heritage is the invisible thread that connects us to our past, weaving through generations to tell the story of who we are, where we’ve come from, and, perhaps, where we’re heading”
How does climate change impact the interpretation of archaeological findings? Does it lead to new discoveries or loss of information?
Climate change, while presenting a significant threat to global heritage sites, also acts as a double-edged sword in the field of archaeology. On one hand, it accelerates the degradation of invaluable historical records; on the other, it occasionally unveils hidden chapters of human history, offering new insights and discoveries.
Revelation of Hidden Sites: In areas where glaciers and ice sheets are retreating, climate change has led to the exposure of artifacts and sites that were previously encased in ice. For instance, in Norway, melting ice has revealed ancient Viking artifacts, such as arrows and clothing, that provide new insights into the daily lives and environmental conditions of past societies. These discoveries offer a silver lining, enabling archaeologists to study materials and cultures that were previously inaccessible.
Loss of Context: However, the loss of information can be profound. When artifacts are unearthed due to changing environmental conditions, they often lose their contextual integrity. The context in which artifacts are found provides crucial information about their use, the people who made them, and the environment they lived in. For example, erosion and flooding can displace artifacts from their original locations, making it challenging to reconstruct historical narratives accurately. The loss of the archaeological context represents a devastating loss for our ability to fully understand the past.
New Discoveries vs. Degradation: The new discoveries, while exciting, often come with a caveat. The same environmental changes that reveal these artifacts also pose a risk to their preservation. Organic materials, once protected under stable conditions, may deteriorate rapidly when exposed to the air and moisture. This creates a race against time for archaeologists to document and preserve these finds before they are lost to the elements.
Altered Interpretations: Climate change can also lead to the reinterpretation of existing archaeological findings. Changes in climate patterns and their impact on landscapes can provide new insights into how ancient societies adapted to environmental changes, offering lessons for contemporary climate resilience. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the past, showcasing the adaptability and ingenuity of human societies in the face of climate variability.
In essence, while climate change challenges the preservation of archaeological sites and artifacts, it also opens new windows into understanding our past. It underscores the importance of integrating environmental and archaeological sciences to salvage and study the emerging relics of human history, ensuring that these new discoveries contribute to our collective knowledge before they are eroded by the very forces that uncovered them.
“Preserving cultural heritage, therefore, is akin to safeguarding our collective memory”
What can we learn from how ancient civilisations dealt with climate change?
The stories of ancient civilisations, marked by their rise and fall, are not just tales of glory and conquest but also lessons in the resilience and vulnerability of human societies to the forces of nature. By examining how these societies responded to climate change, we can glean valuable insights for addressing our contemporary environmental challenges.
Adaptation and Innovation: Many ancient civilizations demonstrated remarkable adaptability to changing climates. For example, the Ancestral Puebloans of the American Southwest engineered sophisticated water collection and irrigation systems to cope with arid conditions. Similarly, ancient Egyptians adapted their agricultural practices to the ebb and flow of the Nile River, ensuring their survival through cycles of flood and drought.
Social Cohesion and Collaboration: The ability of a society to respond to environmental stress often depended on its social cohesion and the collective action of its members. The construction of complex irrigation networks in ancient Mesopotamia, for instance, required coordinated efforts and shared knowledge. This highlights the critical role of community engagement and cooperative strategies in addressing common threats.
Environmental Awareness and Respect: Ancient civilisations, through necessity, developed a deep understanding of their environment. Indigenous cultures, in particular, have long practiced sustainable living, guided by an ethos of respect for nature. Their traditions emphasize the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of maintaining balance with the environment. In our current age, where exploitation of natural resources is rampant, revisiting these principles could guide us toward more sustainable practices.
The Consequences of Ignoring Environmental Limits: The decline of some civilisations, such as the Maya, has been partly attributed to environmental mismanagement, including deforestation and soil depletion. These examples serve as cautionary tales of the dangers of overexploiting natural resources and the potential for societal collapse when environmental thresholds are crossed.
By studying ancient responses to climate change, we learn the value of adaptability, the strength of collective action, the wisdom of environmental stewardship, and the peril of ignoring ecological limits. These lessons from the past are profoundly relevant as we face our own climate crisis. They remind us that sustainability is not just a technical challenge but a cultural one, requiring not only technological solutions but also changes in values, behaviours, and social norms.
“In the face of climate change and other modern threats, the importance of preserving cultural heritage becomes even more critical. As we lose physical sites and intangible practices to environmental and societal shifts, we risk losing parts of our identity”
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