JAR lecturer will discuss marine ecosystems conservation, archaeological collections
October 13, 2022
The Journal of Anthropological Research, which is housed at The University of New Mexico, is hosting lectures in October. Torben Rick, curator of North American Archaeology at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institute, will discuss Coastal Archaeology and Historical Ecology for a Changing Planet and Environmental Archaeology and the Future of Museum Collections on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 20 and 21.
Coastal Archaeology and Historical Ecology for a Changing Planet will be presented Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Anthropology Lecture Hall Room 163.
Our ocean planet is home to diverse marine ecosystems and organisms that played an important role in human evolution and ecology. Today, many marine ecosystems are dramatically degraded and threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, overfishing, and more. Archaeology provides important perspectives on past marine ecosystems and the role of people in shaping and influencing coastal ecosystems prior to dramatic changes of the post-industrial era.
Drawing on examples from the California Coast and the Chesapeake Bay, Rick will explore 10,000 years of human interactions with marine ecosystems to help understand contemporary environmental challenges and prepare for the future. Ultimately, this work illustrates the importance of collaboration with contemporary Indigenous communities and the power of archaeology to help enhance environmental conservation and social justice.
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