A spatial analysis of the impacts of climate change on coastal archeological sites in Maryland

Abstract

Maryland is currently losing valuable archeological resources at an alarming rate. Members of the archeology community, both local and national, need to be aware of the immediate need for action against the already-active threat of climate change to our history and culture. Archeological resources are at risk from factors including sea-level rise, erosion, and storm surge. A vulnerability assessment was completed to prioritize high-risk archeological sites for management, protection and documentation purposes. Spatial analysis tools were used to develop a GIS model to overlay statewide datasets, including erosion rates, shoreline, inundation and proximity to shoreline data, with archeological resources to assess future impacts. With over 3,100 miles of shoreline in Maryland and relative sea-level rise projections for the Chesapeake Bay region as high as one meter by the year 2100, the findings revealed that thirty-three percent of recorded archeological sites in the project area are at high risk from climate change.