Saving the Past: How climate change is erasing the ancient world

Welcome to “Roots and Relics,” my blog series focused on cultural preservation in the face of climate change. Here, I will share my views on the impact of climate change on efforts to preserve ancient artifacts. I will also explore how the failure to address the urgency of climate change poses an existential threat to endangered communities today and their cultures, rituals, and traditions.

Ancient civilizations and lost treasure have always fascinated me since I was young. I would immerse myself in TV shows, books, movies, and anything else having to do with the hunt for valuable objects. I loved the thrill of the discovery journey, sitting on the edge of my seat as each clue unraveled, revealing the path to the next. As I have gotten older, my interest has shifted to learning about the roots and stories behind artifacts. In other words, I found my passion for archaeology, and I began to learn that treasure does not only consist of shiny objects, but also the stories revealed by studying them. In fact, it’s often the least pretentious objects—like a simple piece of clay, a shard of pottery, an engraving on a bowl, a finely detailed mosaic, or an intricately woven basket—that hold the richest stories and carry the voice of history.

As climate change intensifies, the preservation of artifacts and safety of cultural heritage sites is becoming more difficult. Various global organizations and archaeological institutions have been looking into the best course of action. Thousands of years of history could potentially go to waste because we failed to protect our planet. 

Just think about the countless artifacts and societies that once existed, yet remain undiscovered. Imagine what could be destroyed by rising sea levels, wildfires, or other natural disasters. This blog will focus on bringing awareness to the wonders of the ancient world so that we are all motivated to preserve it together.