Archaeological sites along the Libyan shoreline are at risk of being damaged or disappearing due to increasing coastal erosion, according to a study prepared by the PLOS ONE magazine.
The eastern coast, stretching from the Gulf of Sirte to the current Egyptian border, has a long history of human occupation back to the Paleolithic era. Therefore, it hosts numerous important, and often understudied archaeological sites.
However, the coastline also experiences high rates of erosion, which threatens to damage or even erase many of these important sites. Detailed assessments of coastal erosion and the vulnerability of archaeological sites are available for other important coastlines, but not for Libya.
The study combined historical and modern records of the Cyrenaican shoreline using aerial and satellite imagery. As well as field observation to assess patterns of coastal erosion near important archaeological sites.
Near the sites of Apollonia, Ptolemais, and Tocra, the study identified extensive shoreline erosion and increasing rates of erosion in recent years, likely linked to human activities such as sand mining and urbanization.
The results showed that current rates of coastal erosion are already a major problem for these sites. These are likely to increase in the future, with further human activities and rising sea levels due to climate change. This puts these sites at risk of progressive damage, and loss of valuable historical information.
In addition, the magazine noted the need for “detailed management and mitigation plans to protect these sites. As well as the need for increased awareness of the factors that exacerbate coastal erosion. The study also urged for further research to investigate other sites along this and other Mediterranean coastlines, to assess the full extent to which our understanding of human history is threatened by coastal erosion. The impact of erosion here is considerable and could get worse in the future. Our research highlights the critical need to support our Libyan colleagues in mitigating the damage to these endangered and irreplaceable heritage sites.”
