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 ShorernForts in South-East England belonging to the so-called "Saxon Shore" (i.e. the Litus Saxonicum firstlyrnmentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, late 4th century AD) were drastically altered by centuries of sealevelrnrise and siltation phases due to past climate changes, and correlated coastal erosion and landslidingrnprocesses. Further threat for conservation is reasonably to be expected as a consequence of the near futurernclimate change scenarios drawn for the UK. In this paper we analyze coastal and inland geohazards andrnconsequent geotechnical instability which chronically affect the Roman Shore Forts, as well as the issuesrnrelated to the implementation of protection schemes. The current land-locked configuration of sites likernRichborough in Kent and Pevensey in East Sussex, makes them relatively or totally secure. Conversely, therndirect and persistent exposure to coastal dynamics is a pressing issue for the conservation of the archaeologicalrnstructures in Portchester, Hampshire and Reculver, North Kent. These sites clearly exemplify therncurrent need of planning targeted conservation initiatives in the framework of an established and sharedrnprocedure of coastal risk management. They are assumed here among the demonstrative cases to criticallyrndiscuss the impacts of climate change and ever-changing coastal environment on the choice of sitespecificrnmitigation/adaptation strategies.