Introducing COASTAL in Nova Scotia: Community Observation, Assessment, and Salvage of Threatened Archaeological Legacy

Summary

While the technological and methodological challenges facing archaeologists seeking to address the coastal erosion issue are noteworthy, the responsibility to formulate ethical, engaged, and collaborative research methodologies is equally pressing. The impact of coastal erosion and sea level rise on archaeological sites creates significant challenges for Indigenous peoples engaged in reclaiming their own histories and rights. Archaeologists studying threatened sites must therefore also be deeply engaged with Indigenous partners, whose history is literally being swept out to sea. Our paper outlines the goals and aims of the COASTAL archaeology project, which seeks to develop a shared-authority partnership with Indigenous collaborators. We also outline methodological challenges and opportunities of working on Nova Scotia’s coastlines, and highlight the need for tailored strategies to address the erosion issue. Consultation with local informants and collaborators, as well as public archaeology events, are critical for locating sites and saving precious survey resources. We also describe the advantages of using manual subsurface probes to delineate site deposits rapidly and accurately.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20801