Outline Why are polar historic sites interesting/important? Questions

Monitoring the transformation of historic
features in Antarctica and Svalbard: Local
processes and regional contexts
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Outline
Willem Barentsz
Poolinstituut
Symposium
Groningen, 22 October 2009
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Research overview
Repeat photography as a research method
Case studies
Conclusions
Ricardo Roura
University of Groningen
Arctic Centre
Presentation (c) R. Roura 2009
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Why are polar historic sites
interesting/important?
› Repository of historic, scientific information;
› Intrinsic value – historic, cultural;
› Identifying, explaining changes useful for pure,
applied research;
› Site specific changes may in some instances be used
to ground truth regional processes.
‘Visitors to the huts are fascinated by
finding the legendary explorers'
belongings preserved as though they
had just walked out’ (UK’s Natural History
Museum, undated; original emphasis) .
www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/dilemmas/index.html.
Photos H. Ponting 1911, R. Roura 2007
2007
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Questions and hypothesis
1. What are the changes experienced by historic sites in
Antarctica and Svalbard in the contemporary past?
2. What are the causes of these changes?
›
‘Visitors to the huts are fascinated by
finding the legendary explorers'
belongings preserved as though they
had just walked out’ (UK’s Natural History
Hypothesis: That local processes reflect regional
contexts, and that regional processes have local
effects.
Museum, undated; original emphasis) .
www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/dilemmas/index.html.
Photos
PhotoH.
R Roura
Ponting
2007
1911, R. Roura 2006
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Antarctica and Svalbard
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Changes to attributes of artifacts
Before
After
Base map: Rees WG (2005): Polar Record 41 (218): 215–222
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Antarctica and Svalbard: Grounds for
comparison
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Changes to spatial, relational arrangement of
artifacts – greater/lesser disorder
› Polar areas with no indigenous people Terra nullius
› Territorial claims International treaties settle or set
aside sovereignty issues
› Waves of activity
Before
After
• Exploration, extraction, science, tourism
• Different timing and tempo
• Material remains today’s historic sites
› Environmental protection regimes cover historic sites
› Regional manifestations of global economic, geopolitical
interests, and global environmental change
Case study 1 – RF Scott’s Terra
Nova hut, Cape Evans, Ross Island,
Antarctica (1911-1917)
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Repeat photography
› Tool to identify, document
time-serial changes;
› Relatively simple,
economic;
› Dedicated, opportunistic;
› Unashamedly low tech;
› Interpretation requires
complementary methods,
conceptual framework
(this research: Schiffer
1983, 1987)
Photo R. Roura 2007
2
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Scott’s chart table
2007
1911
2008
1990
79 years
Photos H. Ponting 1911, R. Roura 1990
Photos R. Roura 2007, R. Farrell 2008
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Scott’s chart table
1990
Case study 2 – Abandoned marble
quarry, Ny-London, Svalbard (19111920)
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2007
17 years
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441. Photos R. Roura 1990, 2007.
Photos R. Roura 2007
17 years
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Building foundations with cooking stove
ca.1997
2007
ca. 10 years
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441.
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441.Photos Governor of Svalbard, R. Roura 2007
3
ca. 10 years
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Case study 3 - Sealers’ temporary
shelter, Fildes Peninsula, King
George Island, Antarctica (1820s)
1984
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441.
2008
2006
22 years
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441. Photos R. Stehberg 1984, R. Roura 2006
22 years
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From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441.
Photo M. Loonen 2008
2008
2008
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Photo
Loonen
2008
Photo
M.M.
Loonen
2008
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Photo R. Roura 2006
4
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Case study 4 – Port Lockroy, Goudier
Island, Antarctica (1944-1962; 1994–
ongoing)
1993
2005
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Conclusions
1. What are the changes experienced by historic
sites in the Polar Regions in the recent past?
› Historic sites dynamic entities: in the case studies
reported here many minor and some major changes;
in some instances disorder decreased rather than
increased;
› No substantive changes to condition, integrity of case
study sites, but some interventions are controversial;
› “Time capsule” notion applies only to unmanaged
sites.
12 years
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441. Photos R. Roura 1993, Eco-Photo Explorers 2005
12 years
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Conclusions
2. What are the causes of these changes?
› Changes interpreted to result from site-specific
cultural processes – human behavior related to
conservation, tourism, science, and environmental
clean ups;
› Other changes due to natural processes such as e.g.
wind, animal activity;
› Local changes take place in the context of broader
regional developments;
› Cause and effect links cannot always be
unambiguously established.
From: R Roura (in press): Monitoring the transformation of historic features in Antarctica and Svalbard: local processes and regional
context. Polar Record. doi:10.1017/S0032247409990441.
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Change and continuity in the Polar Regions are
rich topic of comparative and inter-disciplinary
research including bridging natural, social
sciences and other disciplines
Photo R. Werner 2007
5
2006
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Refugio Naval Capitán Fliess, Neko Harbour, Danco Coast, Antarctica (established 1949)
Photos R. Werner 2006, 2008
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Acknowledgments
Research and field work possible thanks to:
› Arctic Centre/Groningen Institute of Archeaology,
University of Groningen;
› Netherlands Arctic Station;
› Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition;
› Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, New
Zealand; and
› Governor of Svalbard.
Thanks for your attention.
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