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The Impact of Climate Change on an Archaeological Site in the Arctic
Author(s) -
Hollesen J.,
Matthiesen H.,
Elberling B.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12319
Subject(s) - permafrost , midden , climate change , anoxic waters , erosion , arctic , lead (geology) , environmental science , physical geography , current (fluid) , archaeology , geology , earth science , hydrology (agriculture) , oceanography , geography , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering
Climate change may accelerate the degradation of archaeological sites in the Arctic and lead to a loss of important historical information. This study assesses the current preservation conditions and the processes controlling the physical and chemical stability of the Qajaa kitchen midden in western Greenland. Currently, the site is well protected by low ground temperatures, permafrost and a high water/ice content, keeping the deposits anoxic. Based on 5 years of monitoring data, degradation experiments and model simulation, our results suggest that the combined effects of permafrost thaw, thermal and hydrological erosion and oxygen exposure may lead to substantial loss of archaeological evidence before the end of the 21st century.