What are the Potential Effects of an Oil Spill on Coastal Archaeological Sites?

Author(s): Scott R Sorset; Mark A Rees

Year: 2016

Summary

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) have collaborated to determine the immediate and long-term impacts of an oil spill on cultural resources and archaeological sites in the coastal zone. Nearly five years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the immediate and long-term impacts of oil and dispersants on cultural resources and archaeological sites remain unknown. Concerns include effects that might diminish or destroy the site’s future research potential including loss of radiocarbon-dating potential, direct impact from oil-spill cleanup equipment, and/or looting. We explore this issue in detail following this first major fieldwork season.

Cite this Record

What are the Potential Effects of an Oil Spill on Coastal Archaeological Sites?. Scott R Sorset, Mark A Rees. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Washington, D.C. 2016 ( tDAR id: 434761)

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Keywords

General
Coastal • Oil • Spill

Geographic Keywords
North America • United States of America

Spatial Coverage

min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 684