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The damage and loss of coastal archaeological sites from shoreline transgression and other near-coastal processes is common around the world. It negatively impacts our ability to address important research questions including those about the colonization of the New World, which likely occurred along the Pacific Coast. Differences in geomorphic context, annual weather patterns, topography, vegetation, bedrock, and land-use history lead to distinct localized patterns of erosion even within small geographic regions. We assessed near-coastal erosion on Santa Rosa Island, California, by monitoring annual change at 16 controlled points on 11 archaeological sites from 2013 to 2017 and by comparing it to the local geomorphic context and annual weather patterns. Overall, erosion through this period was greatest on the northwest coast of the island, which is directly in the path of prevailing winds and most winter storms, and least on the more protected west and south coasts. The 2016–2017 winter was the rainiest and had the most annual erosion in general; however, erosion at sites along gulley walls was lowest that year. By monitoring annual erosion and weather and associating them with variations in erosional processes, we can better understand threats to valuable cultural resources and take appropriate steps for mitigating their losses and the loss of archaeological data.
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Sjórinn gefur og sjórinn tekur: Verbúðalíf á Höfnum á Skaga
The sea gives and the sea takes. Life in the fishing stations at Hafnir, Skagi. Climate change and its effects are increasingly becoming a problem in the North Atlantic. Not only does it affect our daily life, but it also affects our knowledge of the past. Marine resources have always played an integral part in Icelandic society, however, coastal sites such as fishing stations are underrepresented in archaeological research. Due to coastal erosion, many such sites are now partly or completely eroded. Even though we notice changes in the landscape there is a lack of measurable data that demonstrates how fast these sites are disappearing. Hafnir, in Skagi, NW Iceland is one such site. It was a large fishing station, which was in use in from the 11th century, and most likely earlier, and until the 19th century. The site was initially surveyed in 2008. In 2022 we got funding from the Icelandic Archaeological Fund (Fornminjasjóður Íslands) to survey the extent of the erosion, which had taken place in the intervening 14 years, and to register the type of erosion, record and interpro.fll exposed profiles. In total c. 80 m of exposed profiles were recorded. In the majority of these was evidence of seasonal booths and associated middens. We estimate that in the most exposed areas there are remains which date to the 11th-16th century. We noticed that since the initial survey in 2008 severe erosion had taken place, although it varied greatly between places. Furthermore, the research revealed that in specific places a certain level of specialisation had taken place, such as the production of whale bone artefacts.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2332775
- PAR ID:
- 10627337
- Publisher / Repository:
- Hið íslenzka fornleifafélag
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags
- ISSN:
- 0256-8462
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Archaeology Fishing Iceland Medieval
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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