Climate change threatening buried UK treasures: LINK TO SOURCE: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60091485

PART-1: WHAT THE ARTICLE SAYS

Experts at Roman fort Vindolanda fear that climate change is drying the peat soil that protects ancient objects as the soils that protect them dry out. A Roman toilet seat, the world’s oldest boxing glove, and the oldest handwritten letter by a woman are some of the extraordinary objects discovered in at-risk British peatlands. Archaeologists say that climate change could undermine our understanding of our past. About 22,500 archaeological sites in UK may be in danger. The problem is that changing weather patterns are drying out some peatlands – the waterlogged soils that cover about 10% of the UK. Because peat contains very little oxygen, organic materials like wood, leather and textiles do not rot. They can survive for thousands of years, preserved by the stable anoxic chemistry of the soil. But if the soils dry, oxygen can enter the system, kick-starting the process of decomposition. If that happens artefacts can quickly, rot away. Excavating these potentially huge sites could cost hundreds of millions of pounds and take decades, by which time they may have been badly damaged. A baby’s shoe was preserved for 2,000 years in peat soil. Magna is a Roman fort alongside Hadrian’s Wall. The drying process may already be under way at this site. The land at Magna has subsided by up to a metre in places in the past decade. It is evidence of “desiccation” – the drying of the peat layer. Our warming world is devastating the peatlands and the secrets of the remains of a vast Roman settlement found by archaeologists. Climate change is devastating our history. me capsule” is at risk, he says, because only a tiny part of the site has so far been excavated. Pretty much everything the Romans used here for 300 or 400 years were preserved in peatlands but it is all about to be taken away by climate change. Another fort a few miles along Hadrian’s Wall gives an idea of the astonishing objects that could lie hidden at Magna. Digs at Vindolanda have uncovered the world’s oldest boxing gloves – so well-preserved that you can still see the imprint of the boxer’s knuckles on one. More Roman footwear has been discovered here than at any other site in the world. It is also the source of the oldest handwritten message by a woman found anywhere. In the note, Claudia Severa, the wife of the commanding officer of a nearby fort, invites her friend Lepidina to her birthday party on 11 September about 1,900 years ago. “Oh how much I want you at my birthday party,” writes Claudia. “You’ll make the day so much more fun. I do so hope you can make it. Goodbye, sister, my dearest soul.” A boxing glove was found as well as combs, toys and shoes at the site of Roman forts. A boxing glove was found as well as combs, toys and shoes at the site of Roman forts. Day-to-day objects like this provide a unique connection to the lives of ordinary people in ancient times. They can give us amazing insights into what life was really like here on the Northern frontier of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. The priority at Magna now is to try to work out what is happening underground. Boreholes have been dug, and electronic equipment measures the water flow and temperature every hour. Dead bodies of the Rmans have been found in peat soils, like the famous Lindow man discovered in Cheshire. Dr Gillian Taylor is analysing the chemicals in soil cores from the site to try to understand the processes at work whereby climate change is taking these precious artefacts away from us. It would be a catastrophe if any if the peat dries. because then these precious artefacts of history will disappear. We will lose our heritage if we don’t look at what’s occurring now and if we don’t take the needed climate action to stop the drying of the peatlands that is destroying our heritage. The condition of the peat is changing rapidly and the treasures could be lost, a full excavation may be necessary.And changing weather patterns are not just threatening the survival of Roman remains but all 22,500 archaeological sites in the peatlands of the UK. Scientists are assessing the effect of climate change on peatland archaeology across the UK. A host of historic sites in peatlands are under threat by Climate Change. The entire sweep of the country’s history is under threat.There are Palaeolithic pathways up to 12,000 years old, and Bronze Age burial sites as well as the remains of more modern settlements and industrial activities. Peatlands have a massive potential to tell us about our past but that is being taken away from us by Climate Change. The loss of peatlands would have big implications for our understanding of the country’s history and also for our climatic history and our environmental history. We must protect them. The UK is about to lose its heritage. It is being taken away by Climate Change. It is imperative that this process must be stopped.

PART-2: CRITICAL COMMENTARY

THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT CLIMATE FEARMONGERING IS RUNNING OUT OF THE SCARY STUFF AND THEY ARE DOWN TO CRYING ABOUT THE ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF THE UK AND THE NEED FOR THE WORLD TO OVERHAUL THEIR ENERGY INFRASTUCTURE FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO RENEWABLES AT A COST OF TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS SO THE UK CAN RETAIN ITS ARCHEOLOGICAL HERITAGE.

YES SIR, GOT IT. WE NEED CLIMATE ACTION TO SAVE THE PEATLANDS AND SAVE THE ROMAN ARTEFACTS IN THE PEATLANDS. YES SIR. WE’RE ON IT.