Archaeology and Climate Change in Florida

The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on Looking to our resilient past to build the future: Archaeology and Climate Change in Florida. The presentation will be held November 20, 2024, 7:00 pm, at the Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, 34112. This is a free public program.

About the Presentation

Climate change is impacting archaeological sites throughout the state. Sites are impacted by increased flooding, which can limit access to areas, and more frequent and intense hurricanes. What action can be taken to document and mitigate these impacts to archaeological sites? How can archaeologists and those interested in archaeology mobilize to support efforts of resiliency professionals and other planners?

This presentation by Sara Ayers-Rigsby will cover statewide programs like Resilient Florida, which define cultural sites as a critical asset. We will also delve into current resiliency efforts by local municipalities to create a resilient future.

Our past is being rapidly destroyed. This presentation will also discuss citizen science efforts, like FPAN’s Heritage Monitoring Scouts Florida program, that document the threats to archaeological sites and how these efforts can help support documenting the threats to archaeologists. It is up to all of us to protect these sites!

About the Speaker

Sara Ayers-Rigsby specializes in cultural resources management and historic preservation. As the Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Southeast/Southwest Regions, Ayers-Rigsby is responsible for designing educational outreach and programming for Florida’s southernmost 9 counties which comprise half of the state’s population. Prior to beginning her role as Southeast/Southwest Regional Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network, she spent 10 years working as an archaeologist throughout the United States, with a regional focus on the archaeology of the southeast and Mid Atlantic. She earned her M.A. in Archaeology for Screen Media from the University of Bristol, UK, and her B.A. in Classical Archaeology from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. She is certified as a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). Her research interests include public outreach and archaeology, resiliency, archaeological compliance legislation, and industrial archaeology in Florida.

Host or Publisher Southwest Florida Archaeological Society