Managing frozen heritage: Some challenges and responses

Abstract

Archaeological and historical remains of great value are emerging from melting snow and ice across the globe as rising temperatures and changing weather patterns lead to the degradation and decline of snow patches, ice sheets and glaciers. Rescuing the heritage remains that exist within some of these sites is a serious challenge for cultural heritage management (CHM) systems and regimes in a number of ways. This paper is a review of some of these challenges. It begins with an overview of the geographical and chronological distribution of glacial archaeological sites and finds from around the world. The institutional CHM context within which this sub-discipline has emerged is described, as are some of the difficulties associated with managing frozen heritage sites and finds. An overview is also given of some of the field and methodological responses that have been applied in different regions until now. Finally, a number of management related issues in need of special attention in the future are highlighted.