Prioritization Frameworks and Archaeological Decision-Making in a Changing North

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Climate and Heritage in the North Atlantic: Burning Libraries" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The impact of climate change on heritage sites is a subject that is discussed with increasing urgency in arctic archaeology. Frequently used metaphors like “burning libraries” or “ticking clocks” capture the visceral feeling of loss experienced by both archaeologists and Inuit communities who witness destructions firsthand. Amid calls to action, however, it is critical to retain the commitment to community-driven research that has been at the core of many arctic projects over the last 20 years. Particularly when discussed as a crisis of “global heritage,” there is a risk that emergency-driven archaeology can re-center decision-making to the campus. Tough choices are ahead, and we identify a need for prioritization frameworks that determine archaeological objectives according to Inuit-driven needs in the present. We outline the consequences of imposed environmental regulations for the Inughuit community in Avanersuaq, Greenland, as an example where archaeology can be productively mobilized. Certain sites are more likely to provide insight on Inughuit-environment relationships through time and, as such, have higher value in displacing the trope of a pristine and empty Arctic. In this context, we draw on fieldwork data to discuss how prioritization frameworks can be coproduced between archaeologists and communities.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Climate and Heritage in the North Atlantic: Burning Libraries   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37001.0