Collapsing Civilizations and Climate Change

So today I don't know if you can call this "ethical archaeology" so don't sue me. . . but it's archaeology and it's fascinating and actually has to do with humanity and has possible impact on our lives. . . So I'd wager that it's valuable (and not gonna lie I'm also a bit of an Environmental Scientist nerd so again that makes me tickled spit-less to have two of my passions in ONE place). Soooo enjoy. Okay that's a little on the short side so if you want to enjoy the entire article I was geeking about: check it. Now back to the lovely commentary you were waiting for, right?

I find it absolutely fascinating that we can use information from the past to learn more about the people and history (how things worked in the past). . .  (I mean duh) but by understanding the past you can actually get an idea of what COULD happen in the future. Ever hear the phrase "history repeats itself??" I think that's something we tend to forget.  People in the past were people, they, like us, struggled to live off an ever changing environment (and with less technology/adaptability to live off of a changing environment). Does that sound familiar??

So quick lesson in archaeology there are different kinds of artifacts. . . surprise you? Does that mean one artifact is bigger or better than another? No not really but the different kinds of material or objects left behind from the past can tell us different things. For example someone's food waste (what us common folk would refer to as trash or garbage) would tell us one thing about the society while a foundation left of a house or building might add something else. . . and human bones also add another layer to the whole artifact thing. Also if you wanna wow your friends with the depth of your archeological knowledge just throw around the term "material culture" in place of artifact. . . you'll sound extra professional ;)

So these clams while not the usual kinds of "artifact" we would think of could be part of the "biofacts" or "ecofacts." What exactly is the importance of clams? Well in this case these clams actually recorded a change in climate which basically upset the entire Moche social structure and ability to thrive.  They were a heavily agricultural society and were unable to adapt to the changes in climate (most likely ENSO related. . . El Nino for those of you who aren't Environmental scientists). Clams can tell you that? YUUUUP pretty sweet huh? The Moche used clams to cover their grave sites, and when excavating scientists have been able to analyze the clam shells which actually record the changes in upwelling and nutrients deficiencies etc. in their shells. Awesome, huh?!

Now. . . what does this have to do with us? Other than being really cool and showing just how awesome we are at creating technology to answer all kinds of random questions that we have about everything (I mean come on who really puts in all that effort to study clams to find out that they can somehow record changes in temperature. . . and then who thinks to apply that to archaeological dig sites?! Pretty brilliant if I do say so myself).  I think what we need to realize, is that this can happen to us too. . . We can't bat our eyes at the Moche and dismiss their fall, thinking we won't be affected by climate.  Have you read the news? Have you heard the debates? Green house gases? Pollution? Glaciers melting?? The question is how will we learn from what has happened in the past? Can we change the course of history and avoid repeating the past mistakes?  Or will someday distant from now will someone or something else be excavating our remains and wondering why we were so foolish and didn't adapt or change to live in an ever changing world?