Author(s): Olmos, P.
Dates: 22/08/2016 - 25/08/2016
Landscape Archaeology Conference 2016
Uppsala Universitet
Uppsala (Suècia), del 23 al 25 d'agost
Uppsala (Suècia), del 23 al 25 d'agost
Organised by: el Department of Archaeology and Ancient History de la Uppsala Universitet
Mountain areas are especially sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic pressure which has increased damage risk to mountain archaeological heritage. The remains of livestock activities are susceptible to natural hazards, including flooding, erosion and mainly landslip. At the same time, the decline of traditional activities has an important impact on the conservation of the archaeological record. In this work we propose a methodology for risk assessment of mountain archaeological heritage based on a multidisciplinary approach and the integration of archaeology, history, climatology and geomorphology datasets resources. Our goal is to implement a procedure for observing and quantifying the risks threatening mountain archaeological heritage. This methodology is based on the observation of a series of variables, concerning natural and anthropic threats and the frequency of damages, and the vulnerability and archaeological interest of the archaeological structures in the context of a cultural landscape, in order to produce evaluation outputs (risk map) in a Geographical Information System to alert local communities and heritage managers from sites at-risk and adapt heritage management
strategies. This methodology should be adapted to each mountain cultural landscape. However, our initial study case will be placed in the Vall de Núria/Coma de Vaca area (Spanish Pyrenees), due to the availability of data sets and the archaeological importance of this sector. Our final aim is to raise social awareness of this fragile heritage and provide tools to integrate locals in risk assessment and in cultural heritage management.