Geohazards and climate change issues for the preservation of the Saxon Shore in South Britain

摘要

The former environmental context and current visitors’ perception of the Roman Shore Forts in South-East England belonging to the so-called “Saxon Shore” (i.e. the Litus Saxonicum firstly mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, late 4th century AD) were drastically altered by centuries of sea-level rise and siltation phases due to past climate changes, and correlated coastal erosion and landsliding processes. Further threat for conservation is reasonably to be expected as a consequence of the near future climate change scenarios drawn for the UK. In this paper we analyze coastal and inland geohazards and consequent geotechnical instability which chronically affect the Roman Shore Forts, as well as the issues related to the implementation of protection schemes. The current land-locked configuration of sites like Richborough in Kent and Pevensey in East Sussex, makes them relatively or totally secure. Conversely, the direct and persistent exposure to coastal dynamics is a pressing issue for the conservation of the archaeological structures in Portchester, Hampshire and Reculver, North Kent. These sites clearly exemplify the current need of planning targeted conservation initiatives in the framework of an established and shared procedure of coastal risk management. They are assumed here among the demonstrative cases to critically discuss the impacts of climate change and ever-changing coastal environment on the choice of site-specific mitigation/adaptation strategies.