Marine archaeology and sea level change
Marine archaeology and sea level changes are closely linked. Rising sea levels can flood coastal areas and submerge landscapes while falling sea level can expose previously submerged sites. Marine artefacts (both biological and geochemical signatures) serve as valuable indicators of the past sea level, providing insights into coastal evolution, climate change as well as human adaptations. This workshop will include an ensemble of marine archaeologists and researchers working on sea level changes.
Sea level change is a matter of great concern for a significant part of the world population that lives in coastal regions. Transgression of seawater can flood coastal areas and infrastructures, while seawater regression can make ports and jetties defunct affecting the coastal population and livelihood. Therefore, understanding sea level changes and its influence on coastal populations is crucial. For an informed decision making on coastal management and planning, it is also necessary to study the past sea level changes as it will provide a context for understanding modern sea level rise and also future potential trajectory. Past sea level changes will provide insights into the climate drivers influencing sea levels like global temperature, ice sheet dynamics as well as ocean circulation patterns.
Various techniques using tide gauges, satellite altimetry and GPS measure changes in the sea-level fluctuations. Besides these, geophysical observations using seismic or gravitational measurements provide insights into the causes of sea level changes. Paleoclimatic tools such as those using sediment cores, coral reefs, etc, can provide past records of sea level changes. Notably, the marine archaeological investigations using various marine artefacts provide not just significant records of sea level change but also give an insight on how past sea level changes impact human civilization and settlement patterns.
The workshop is planned to provide a platform for scientific deliberations on the importance of sea level changes from a marine archaeology perspective. A minimum of 25 participants are expected for this workshop along with a few keynote speakers. The workshop will cover the broad themes on
Introduction to Marine Archaeology
Application of Marine Archaeology to sea level changes
Implications and impacts of sea level change
Methods and techniques to reconstruct sea level changes using proxy records
The workshop also intends to bring together researchers from the field of marine archaeology and sea level/paleo sea level changes to foster future collaborations. Participation in the form of oral presentations and site visits are planned for this workshop.
Cost: free
Participation: Complete this form.
Contact: Dr. Thejasino Suokhrie (tsuokhrie@nio.res.in), Dr. Harsh Raj (harshraj@nio.res.in)