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The Shape of Things: Archaeology, Environmentalism, and Plastic

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Abstract

The archaeology of plastic is many things at once: an environmental crisis, a growing impact on existing maritime and terrestrial archaeological resources, an advancement in material culture, and the foundation of future archaeological deposits. It is the shape of things as they are now and the shape of things to come. This article explores the intersection between the environmental crisis of unfettered plastic production and archaeology, with an eye toward understanding archaeology as a platform for activism and public outreach during the continuing climate crisis. It offers new paths forward for addressing plastic pollution in the discipline of archaeology as well as actions concerned citizens can take individually.

Resumen

La arqueología de los plásticos es muchas cosas a la vez: una crisis ambiental, un impacto creciente sobre los recursos arqueológicos marítimos y terrestres existentes, un avance en la cultura material y la fundación de futuros yacimientos arqueológicos. Es la forma de las cosas como son ahora y la forma de las cosas por venir. En este artículo se explora la intersección entre la crisis ambiental por la producción de plásticos sin restricciones y la arqueología, con miras a comprender la arqueología como una plataforma para el activismo y la divulgación pública durante la continua crisis climática. Se ofrecen nuevos caminos para abordar la contaminación por plásticos en la disciplina de la arqueología, así como acciones que los ciudadanos preocupados pueden tomar individualmente.

Résumé

L'archéologie du plastique recouvre simultanément plusieurs éléments : une crise environnementale, un impact croissant sur les ressources archéologiques maritimes et terrestres, une avancée de la culture matérielle et la fondation de vestiges archéologiques futurs. Il s'agit de la situation telle qu’elle est de nos jours et de celle à venir. Cet article est une étude de l'intersection entre la crise environnementale de la production sans entraves du plastique et l'archéologie, dans l'objectif d'appréhender l'archéologie en tant que plateforme pour un activisme et une sensibilisation du public durant la crise climatique en cours. Il propose des avancées nouvelles pour le traitement de la pollution par le plastique dans la discipline de l'archéologie ainsi que des actions que les citoyens impliqués peuvent engager individuellement.

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Acknowledgments:

While writing this article, my watch mate and dedicated environmentalist, Ann Jenkins, lost her battle with metastatic cancer. This article is dedicated to Ann and her contributions in fighting single-use plastic pollution—she demonstrated that one person can make a difference. I would like to thank the thematic collection’s editors, Sarah Miller and Jeneva Wright, for the opportunity to write this article, as well those who took their time to review this article. Thank you to Marcy Rockman for conversations regarding heritage funding and the petroleum industry. And finally, my sincere thanks to Denise Jaffke and the members of SCHUNRS—Sonoma Coast Historic and Undersea Nautical Research Society—for their assistance with the underwater pollution diver observation survey. Their firsthand knowledge of plastic pollution and underwater heritage sites made this a better article and will be invaluable going forward.

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    Kimberly J. Wooten

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Wooten, K.J. The Shape of Things: Archaeology, Environmentalism, and Plastic. Hist Arch 57, 489–503 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-023-00449-5

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