Tracking shoreline erosion of “at risk” coastal archaeology: the example of ancient Siraf (Iran, Persian Gulf)

摘要: Successful heritage management requires a robust comprehension of the threats facing archaeological sites, at both current and future timescales. Siraf, on Persian Gulf Iran, is site national international importance whose history stretches back to Sassanid period (224-652 AD). In present context global change (drought relative sea-level rise) anthropogenic impacts (coastal artificialization reduced sediment supply), city's waterfront archaeology undergoing significant erosion. Nonetheless, present, processes leading loss Siraf's in situ remains are still poorly understood, including rates, timing drivers coastal Here we use Landsat images monitor shoreline changes along Siraf coastline between 1973 2016. We spatially quantify causes surface 244 transects. The results demonstrate that erosion responsible for widespread archaeologically damage, with 48% studied transects showing during 1973-2016. elucidate temporal variations data and, most notably, continued drought since early 2000s has impacted upon supply areas, severely accentuating For instance, 2003 2016, 70% recorded retreat worrying implications Siraf. These quantitative provide invaluable spatial information regarding heritage, addition furnishing template protection internationally important cultural heritage.