The distinguished scientist is a marine archaeologist specializing in the Pacific, while BOEM is part of the US Department of the Interior and plays an important role in ocean management.
Speaking at the seminar entitled “Cultural Heritage School 2”, which took place in Thessaloniki, as part of a memorandum of cooperation between the Greek Ministry of Culture, the US Embassy in Athens and the International Council of Museums ICOM, Dr. Wright made it clear that globally “many cultural heritage sites will be lost” due to climate change, and called on scientists to work closely together.
What are the main threats posed by climate change to underwater archaeological sites?
Climate change is felt everywhere. We often associate climate change with rising sea levels, fires and heat waves, but there are also real impacts on cultural heritage, both above and below water. We are still trying to understand the threats of climate change to underwater archaeological sites. Among other things, they may relate to direct damage or alteration to antiquities and dramatic changes in the surrounding area. These threats pose a particularly acute problem for cultural heritage sites because they are unique and irreplaceable. Rising sea temperatures will have a wide-ranging impact on cultural heritage, from the preservation of antiquities to biodiversity. At the same time, ocean acidification (i.e. lowering the pH value of seawater) might affect the stability of cultural material and destabilize or inhibit the calcium carbonates that form and help protect iron objects. Finally, extreme climatic events, such as major storms, have the potential to disrupt or destroy underwater archaeological sites.
What can Greek scientists learn from their colleagues in the USA, in terms of protecting marine cultural heritage from climate change?
We must learn from each other. There is still much to learn and much work to be done. The Greek maritime cultural heritage is definitely at risk from climate change. By climate and heritage scientists working together, we can do much more. The most important lesson for all of us is the need to communicate what we learn, the actions we take and their effectiveness.
What kind of actions can be taken to protect the Greek maritime cultural heritage from the effects of climate change?
It is usually better to think in terms of strategy, of solutions. There are a number of ways in which the effects of climate change on marine cultural heritage can be addressed, from protecting or remaining in place to thoroughly preparing for loss or even damage. In the United States, the Department of the Interior is taking action to address the climate crisis and avoid its most devastating effects. There is increasing recognition of the need for prioritization given the large number of threatened sites and the limited resources available to address current and impending impacts. Many cultural heritage sites will be lost. Many can be preserved.
How can we ensure that the protection needs of marine cultural heritage are met in the future?
As scientists from different fields work together, marine cultural heritage will be an important part of wider discussions such as climate change. Workshops like today’s are extremely valuable for communication, sharing actions and learnings.
SEMINAR AT THESSALONIKI
The strength in unity for the embassy of the USA and the Dept. of Culture
The US Embassy in Athens and the Ministry of Culture joined forces for the second time, organizing the highly successful seminar on the protection of cultural heritage from climate change. It was held in Thessaloniki with the participation of 70 cultural heritage managers and other stakeholders from Greece and other countries of South-East Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. In its context, it became known that a project is underway to protect 19 archaeological sites in the country, among them Philippi Kavala and the particularly vulnerable to floods Dion Pieria. Greece is preparing a national plan for the prevention of climate change phenomena and their effects on cultural heritage, which will be ready in 2025.
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