Open AccessThe archaeology of climate change: The case for cultural diversity
Author(s) -
Ariane Burke,
Matthew Peros,
Colin D. Wren,
Francesco S. R. Pausata,
Julien RielSalvatore,
Olivier Le Moine,
Anne de Vernal,
Masa Kageyama,
Solène Boisard
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2108537118
Subject(s) - climate change , psychological resilience , pace , diversity (politics) , resilience (materials science) , biodiversity , politics , archaeological record , environmental resource management , anthropocene , cultural diversity , geography , environmental ethics , environmental planning , ecology , archaeology , sociology , political science , anthropology , environmental science , psychology , philosophy , physics , geodesy , law , psychotherapist , biology , thermodynamics
Anthropogenic climate change is currently driving environmental transformation on a scale and at a pace that exceeds historical records. This represents an undeniably serious challenge to existing social, political, and economic systems. Humans have successfully faced similar challenges in the past, however. The archaeological record and Earth archives offer rare opportunities to observe the complex interaction between environmental and human systems under different climate regimes and at different spatial and temporal scales. The archaeology of climate change offers opportunities to identify the factors that promoted human resilience in the past and apply the knowledge gained to the present, contributing a much-needed, long-term perspective to climate research. One of the strengths of the archaeological record is the cultural diversity it encompasses, which offers alternatives to the solutions proposed from within the Western agro-industrial complex, which might not be viable cross-culturally. While contemporary climate discourse focuses on the importance of biodiversity, we highlight the importance of cultural diversity as a source of resilience.