SHA 2026 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology

Session Abstract

In an era when climate discussions can be politically sensitive and operationally complex, this panel tackles the urgent and controversial topic of climate change impacts on archaeological and cultural resources—both along vulnerable shorelines and far beyond them. While coastal erosion and sea-level rise rightly draw attention, shifting weather patterns, intensifying wildfires, and changing ecosystems also profoundly threaten inland sites. Panelists will share case studies spanning coastlines to heartlands, highlighting diverse strategies for documentation, mitigation, and public engagement under mounting climate pressures. This session offers a professional forum to confront the realities facing heritage management and we anticipate including additional panelists to further broaden perspectives. Through candid dialogue, we aim to spark innovative, locally grounded responses that uphold our shared responsibility to protect irreplaceable cultural resources—wherever they lie on the landscape.

In the Trenches Beyond the Shoreline - Confronting Climate Change and Heritage Preservation

Organizer(s): Andrew J. Robinson (SHSND), Steven Filoromo (TRC)

Chair(s): Andrew J. Robinson (SHSND), Steven Filoromo (TRC)

Panelist(s): Andrew J. Robinson (SHSND), Emily Jane Murray (FPAN), Steven Filoromo (TRC), Meg Gaillard (SCDNR), John M. Lambert (ISAS), Marcy Rockman (Visiting Researcher - Sweden)

In an era when climate discussions can be politically sensitive and operationally complex, this panel tackles the urgent and controversial topic of climate change impacts on archaeological and cultural resources—both along vulnerable shorelines and far beyond them. While coastal erosion and sea-level rise rightly draw attention, shifting weather patterns, intensifying wildfires, and changing ecosystems also profoundly threaten inland sites. Panelists will share case studies spanning coastlines to heartlands, highlighting diverse strategies for documentation, mitigation, and public engagement under mounting climate pressures. This session offers a professional forum to confront the realities facing heritage management and we anticipate including additional panelists to further broaden perspectives. Through candid dialogue, we aim to spark innovative, locally grounded responses that uphold our shared responsibility to protect irreplaceable cultural resources—wherever they lie on the landscape.

Conference Agenda