Honoring the Loss: Reflections on the Archaeological and Ecological Impacts of Recent Wildfires

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Intersection Between Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Pressing Threats to Both", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2020 and 2021 the Castle and KNP Complex Fires burned through multiple sequoia groves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks resulting in unprecedented loss of iconic monarch sequoias. Overshadowed by the headline grabbing ecological devastation are the impacts to the many archaeological sites within the fire footprint. With the continued and increasing threat of extreme wildfires, comes the need to critically examine landscape level approaches to archaeological survey and site documentation. This paper looks at how Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are addressing climate change, preparing for the next big fire, and reflecting on the losses from the previous fires.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Intersection Between Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Pressing Threats to Both   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow