Research Blen Taye Gemeda

Abstract

Climate change poses risks to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage globally. Recent research has highlighted geographic limitations in climate change and cultural heritage literature, namely that the focus is predominantly on Europe, and called for more studies to address the challenges of climate change elsewhere in the world. The 2022 IPCC Assessment Report drew attention to the poor state of knowledge regarding direct climate risks rock art faces across Africa. Rock art and other similar heritage assets, such as rock-cut architecture (carved structures on cliff faces, e.g. Abu Simbel, Egypt) are found in the thousands in Africa. These types of heritage, which we can collectively refer to as Rock Art and Architecture (RAA) face unprecedented risks due to climate change. This research proposes an innovative approach to climate risk analysis by exploring if studying heritage types with common characteristics (such as, RAA) is a better way to identify and respond to climate-driven hazards to cultural heritage. Employing the IPCC's climate risk assessment framework to assess the exposure, vulnerability and climate-driven hazards, this research will identify the major climate risks RAA in Africa face. The outcome of this assessment will be used to develop adaptation pathways that integrate both site level and region scale assessments of risks. It will also address methodological and geographical gaps in research about climate change and cultural heritage.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: De Kock Tim
• Fellow: Gemeda Blen Taye

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project