Documenting Climate Change
Archaeologists throughout the Chesapeake are in a race against time to record sites threatened by the effects of climate change.
Rising sea levels, eroding coasts and intense storms have washed away countless resources, some dating back thousands of years. Sinking land and rampant development have exacerbated the problem.
Experts are working with concerned citizens to excavate sites and record data before much of our coastal history is lost forever. Stephanie Spirling, former director of archaeological research for Anne Arundel County Archaeology Group/Lost Towns Project, has made it her mission over the last decade to capture disappearing history.
Spirling shares what she’s learned in archaeological digs throughout the region at the Maryland History Lecture Series finale, presented by the Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation.
Joining her is Jay Fleming. The Chesapeake Bay photographer and author will discuss his book Working the Water, a visual narrative of the people whose livelihoods depend directly on our Bay, America’s largest estuary. You’ll also get to see photos from his forthcoming book Island Life, which explores the rich environment and culture of Smith and Tangier, the last two inhabited offshore islands in the Bay.
Tues., March 12, 6pm, Key Auditorium, St. John’s College, Annapolis: www.sjc.edu/annapolis/events/lectures/maryland-history-lecture-series.