Sustainability Forum

Check out the newest episode of the Green Tea Podcast!

In this episode, Roxy speaks with three archaeological conservators who regularly conserve archaeological finds lifted from glacial areas in the Northern Hemisphere. In ice patches, areas that are stationary, frozen, and often obscured by snowfall, organic heritage such as plant or animal-based materials can survive with minimal degradation or loss even over multiple millennia. However, the escalating warming of the planet in this modern era is having a significant impact on these high altitude areas leading to more frequent melting events and exposing more finds. 

Francis, Margrethe, and Johanna each describe some of the unique finds that have been uncovered due to the glacial melting in their local regions (Norway and Switzerland). They also highlight how the stability of these finds can be significantly hindered if left out in the elements due to our changing climate and how important regular surveying is to maintaining an accurate understanding of the area.

Additionally Johanna describes her research into how low energy air drying techniques for birch bark materials can be a better alternative to more energy-intensive methods like vacuum drying. 

If you are also working with glacial archaeological materials from the Southern Hemisphere, the Himalayas, or other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, such as Canada or Russia, please reach out to ⁠aicsustainability@gmail.com⁠.  We would like to connect you with this ICOM-CC cohort who are hoping to expand the field's collective awareness of this unique intersection of cultural heritage conservation and ecological conservation. 

This is our last episode for 2025 - check back in January 2026 for our episode with Beatriz Haspo, volunteer executive director of APOYOnline, a non-profit organization that promotes communication, exchange and professional development in the field of heritage preservation in the Americas and in Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries.