Portland State Magazine Fall 2014

FALL 2014 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 7 PA R K B L O C K S Saving Alaskan ancient history ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR Shelby Anderson is combating the impact of climate change on an unexpected victim: humanity’s archaeological record. She is studying archaeological sites in northern Alaska that tell the story of past human occupation. These sites are now in danger of being destroyed by the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels and decreasing snow and ice cover erode archaeological sites, compromising artifacts, but also reveal new ones. Anderson’s research project is helping to preserve the record by prioritizing archaeological sites for protection while gathering information about how climate change, in general, affects sites—a worldwide issue. 