The past at risk: assessing climate and geological hazard for the preservation of archaeological sites in coastal Peru using open-access data
| dc.contributor.affiliation | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Departamento de Humanidades | |
| dc.contributor.affiliation | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mauricio, A.C. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Fernandini, F. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-13T16:59:20Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The immovable archaeological heritage of Peru is among the richest in the world, particularly along the Peruvian coast, which boasts numerous examples dating from the Terminal Pleistocene to the Inca times (13000 BP-1532 AD). This cultural heritage is an important source of scientific and historical information, is the source for the construction of national identity(ies) and contributes significantly to the social and economic development of the surrounding communities. However, this archaeological heritage is under constant threat of destruction due to various factors, including climate change and human activities. This paper outlines the results of a multidisciplinary research conducted on the Peruvian coast, aimed at identifying the most significant geological and climatic hazards affecting the preservation of coastal archaeological sites. Based on fieldwork conducted on the northern and central coast, a low-cost, primarily remote analysis methodology was developed. This methodology utilizes open-access geological, cultural, archaeological, and climatic data, geographic information system, and aerial imagery to identify the effects of climatic risk (particularly El Niño), geological hazards, and to assess the vulnerability of archaeological sites to these hazards. This methodology, which provides updated and multi-variable data, is designed to support local and regional authorities in decision-making processes related to the planning and preservation of Peru's pre-Hispanic cultural heritage. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Funding: The fieldwork was carried out with authorization from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture through research programs led by the authors of this article.; Funding text 2: In this context, the research project The Past at Risk: Geological, Climatic, and Cultural Factors Affecting the Conservation of Archaeological Heritage on the Peruvian Coast was carried out between 2019 and 2022, funded by the Peruvian National Council for Science and Technology (CONCYTEC). The primary objective of this project was to develop a framework for identifying and assessing the main climatic, geological, and cultural risks affecting archaeological sites along the Peruvian coast. This framework aims to support local, regional, and national authorities in the conservation, enhancement, and management of coastal archaeological monuments. The project sought to establish a reliable and cost-effective methodological model that could be implemented not only by government institutions at different levels but also by other entities or organizations involved in heritage management. This article presents part of this research, the proposed methodology for identifying the primary climatic and geological factors threatening the archaeological heritage of the Peruvian coast. The sociocultural aspects involved in this topic are not included here but were part of the general study and can be reviewed elsewhere (). Although numerous studies have employed remote sensing methods to assess the conservation status of archaeological sites or to detect their presence in various regions of the world—some of which incorporate open-access data (e.g., ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )—most of these cases focus primarily on the analysis of individual sites using aerial or satellite imagery, without incorporating multivariable assessments of risk factors or hazards. In contrast, our approach integrates multiple parameters—climatic, geological, hydrological, and geographical, among others—to enable both an updated and diachronic evaluation of a broader set of archaeological sites simultaneously. | |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.3389/fearc.2025.1612708 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14657/206266 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Frontiers Media | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | urn:issn:1664-462X | |
| dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess | |
| dc.source | Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology; Vol. 4 (2026) | |
| dc.subject | Cultural heritage | |
| dc.subject | Climate change | |
| dc.subject | Pleistocene | |
| dc.subject | Vulnerability (computing) | |
| dc.subject | Excavation | |
| dc.subject | Hazard | |
| dc.subject | Natural hazard | |
| dc.subject.ocde | https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#5.04.03 | |
| dc.title | The past at risk: assessing climate and geological hazard for the preservation of archaeological sites in coastal Peru using open-access data | |
| dc.type | http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 | |
| dc.type.other | Artículo | |
| dc.type.version | https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/version_types/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85/ |