Archaeology of Sustainability and Sustainable Archaeology
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 39142
Special Issue Editors
Interests: geoarchaeology; arid land; climate change
Interests: landscape archaeology; fluvial geomorphology; historical land use
Interests: landscape archaeology; GIS and spatial analysis; computer modelling; later pre-history; ethnoarchaeology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the context of archaeological research and practice, the subject of Sustainability has a two-fold implication.
From one side, the archaeological record provides evidence of sustainable practices carried out by ancient communities in different ecological niches around the globe. Adaptations to climatic and environmental variations, strategies for the exploitation and management of natural resources (soil, wood, water, etc.), changes in land use, and examples of resilience or fragility of human societies are commonly detected in the archaeological record and, at a large scale, in archaeological landscapes. In the context of the current climatic shifts, such information is a precious tool to build narratives for the public about the risks human communities face in front of a rapidly changing environment, and to show lessons from our shared past. Furthermore, it is increasingly acknowledged among scholars and policymakers that the current character of socioecological systems depends on their long-term evolution, which only archaeological research can unravel.
On the other hand, today, archaeological cultural heritage needs the development of good practices for sustainable investigation, conservation, management, and touristic promotion. The so-called Global North leads archaeological research, while archaeologists in the Global South are struggling because of their limited access to funding and scientific information. The archaeological record in the World is threatened by ongoing climate change and out-of-control urbanization as much as other destructive human practices. Many countries lack the proper laws to protect and manage archaeological sites and landscapes, rarely considered as a resource for tourism and for the sustainable development of local communities. The growth of FOSS/FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) would foster accessibility to scientific tools, reducing costs and boosting the adoption of proper sustainable management policies. New technologies in archaeological research may also improve the possibility to cope with abrupt interruption in field research in the case of natural disasters, social unrest or pandemic.
This Special Issue is intended to gather contributions illustrating the multifaceted aspects of archaeology of sustainability and sustainable archaeology. Papers presenting and discussing archaeological, ethnoarchaeological, and geoarchaeological evidence of past land use changes, resilience, and sustainable exploitation of natural resources are welcomed, especially if they focus on poorly investigated areas of the world, or regions undergoing profound socioecological transformations. Papers reporting on extant challenges for the sustainability of research and management of archaeological cultural heritage and the application of new technologies and FOSS/FLOSS protocols, as well as discussing topics on the future agenda for a global sustainable archaeology are solicited. We also seek contributions that explore the theoretical and methodological challenges of this topic.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Zerboni
Dr. Filippo Brandolini
Dr. Francesco Carrer
Dr. Guido S. Mariani
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- archaeology of sustainability
- geoarchaeology
- landscape archaeology, environmental archaeology
- ethnoarchaeology
- land use
- resilience
- climate change
- cultural heritage preservation
- cultural heritage management
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