Results and Analysis of Coastal Cultural Heritage at Environmental Risk: Directions for Conservation and Safeguarding

The Coastline Project, developed by the Laboratory of Archaeology and Conservation of Underwater Heritage, of the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, in partnership with the non-profit association CAAPortugal. The main objective is to diagnose the risks induced by environmental factors and climate change in coastal cultural heritage. This problem has been seen as fundamental to understanding the impact of worsening climate change on safeguarding the remains recorded in the Portuguese interface area. The study takes place essentially in the interface zone up to 100 m from the coastal strip. The observations made it possible to identify the presence of 288 archaeological sites in this area (except the Algarve region), with a large part of them (204) at high risk of destruction in a time that was calculated to be less than 50 years. The research cross-references data from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and records present in the database of the cultural heritage guardianship entity - Património Cultural Instituto Público (PC-IP). The high rate of sites at risk currently presents a growing concern in heritage management and the preservation of cultural traces of ancient occupation. To minimize impacts, it is proposed that the supervisory entity (PC-IP) together with a committee of researchers from different higher education institutions can consider possibilities and strategies to guarantee the study and future safeguarding of these sites. Data is shared for better management, including municipal, site analysis and development of mitigation strategies.