Climate Change, Archaeology, and Native Expertise: an Ice Patch Success Story

Summary

Managing the impacts of climate change to cultural resources, and conducting relevant research, cross-cuts disciplinary boundaries and calls for an innovative, outward looking mindset. Descendant communities, particularly Native groups with long ties to lands and resources and high stakes in climate change outcomes, are rich in traditional ecological knowledge and cultural expertise. These bodies of knowledge are key building blocks for successful strategies for risk evaluation, vulnerability assessment, minimizing or mitigating impacts, and research design. The Glacier Ice Patch Archaeology Project team has developed a culturally informed, scientifically rigorous protocol for ice patch discoveries. This paper highlights the protocol's elements and accomplishments to provide a useful template for other efforts.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Heritage Tools for Tackling Climate Change

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