Powerful hurricanes in 2017-Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria-were stark examples of how these previously rare catastrophes are becoming increasingly normal due to climate change, with dire consequences for cultural resources. These storms, sometimes called megastorms or superstorms, were the first in which high-resolution satellite imagery was available in the immediate aftermath, providing a new tool for rapidly evaluating damage to archaeological sites. Using Hurricane Harvey as a case study, we examined two recent spatial models of archaeological site vulnerability to long-term climate change to determine whether these models are also adequate for predicting the impacts of short-term climate catastrophes. We further examined a number of individual variables that we expected to be useful in predicting which sites would be most vulnerable to flooding, such as proximity to rivers, the coast, or the floodplain. Neither the models nor the individual variables correlated well to increased risk to archaeological sites, with the exception of land use. Sites located within developed areas benefited from measures to protect property and were less often flooded. We suggest that strategies for responding to megastorms would be most effective through a combination of preparedness, analysis of remote sensing data, and existing field research methods.
1.Temple Univ, Dept Anthropol, 1115 Pollett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA 2.Southern Methodist Univ, Dept Anthropol, POB 750336, Dallas, TX 75275 USA
Recommended Citation:
Reeder-Myers, Leslie A.,Mccoy, Mark D.. Preparing for the Future Impacts of Megastorms on Archaeological Sites: An Evaluation of Flooding from Hurricane Harvey, Houston, Texas[J]. AMERICAN ANTIQUITY,2019-01-01,84(2):292-301