Climate change is unearthing archaeological discoveries, while also threatening them
Climate change is causing extreme weather events that reveal ancient archaeological sites, such as shipwrecks and skeletons, while simultaneously threatening their preservation. Researchers warn that drying soils and changing environmental conditions are destroying artifacts that were previously protected by stable moisture levels.
Why it matters
This highlights the dual-edged nature of climate change, where temporary exposure of historical sites comes at the cost of long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with Jørgen Hollesen, a Senior Researcher at the National Museum of Denmark, about how climate change is impacting the study of archaeology.
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