Britain's ancient treasures are threatened by climate change: Peatlands that protect buried artefacts are drying out amid rising temperatures, study warns
Britain's ancient treasures are being threatened by climate change, experts have warned, with about 22,500 UK sites of archaeological significance potentially at risk.
Archaeologists say that if global warming continues to dry out peatlands — waterlogged soils which cover about 10 per cent of the UK — then still-buried artefacts that offer an understanding of our past may be destroyed.
Just some of the fascinating items that have already been unearthed from peatlands across Britain include a Roman toilet seat, the world's oldest boxing glove and the oldest handwritten letter by a woman.
As peat soil contains very little oxygen, organic materials like wood, leather, textiles and even, in some cases, human flesh do not rot. They are preserved by the stable anoxic chemistry of the soil and can survive for thousands of years.
The most famous such discovery was the Lindow Man, a preserved body of a man believed to be from the Iron Age that was found in a peat bog in Cheshire in 1984 by professional peat cutters.
Even the man's internal organs were so well preserved that investigators were able to determine his last meal.
However, if the soils dry, oxygen can enter the system and this begins the process of decomposition, meaning artefacts can decay quite quickly.
Britain's ancient treasures are being threatened by climate change because peatlands are drying out, experts have warned. The Lindow Man, a preserved body of a man believed to be from the Iron Age that was found in Cheshire in 1984, is the most famous peatlands discovery
Just some of the fascinating items that have already been unearthed from peatlands across Britain include a Roman toilet seat (pictured)
History: The world's oldest boxing glove (pictured) was also uncovered from British peatlands. It was found at the Roman fort of Vindolanda alongside Hadrian's Wall
'Pretty much everything the Romans used here for 300 or 400 years could have been preserved in more or less the same state it was thrown away, which is an incredible opportunity.
'If we lose places like this, we lose that direct connection to the people who lived in this island 2,000 years ago.
'We lose the chance to learn as much as we can about them.
'And we lose part of our own heritage and part of our own history.'
Fellow archaeologist Dr Gillian Taylor, of Teesside University, added that if the peat dries out at these sites it would be 'catastrophic' for any organic artefacts, telling the BBC: 'We will lose our heritage if we don't look at what's occurring now.'
It could cost hundreds of millions of pounds to excavate at risk British peatland sites, by which time still-buried artefacts may have been badly damaged.
The warnings come ahead of the 1,900th anniversary of the start of construction of Hadrian's Wall, with celebrations due to begin this week.
At another Roman fort alongside the wall — Vindolanda — more Roman footwear has been discovered than at any other site in the world.
As peat soil contains very little oxygen, organic materials like wood, leather, textiles and even, in some cases, human flesh do not rot. Pictured is a Roman shoe
Pictured is another example of the Roman shoes found at Vindolanda, alongside Hadrian's Wall
Dr Andrew Birley, the chief archaeologist at Magna, a Roman fort alongside Hadrian's Wall, said the 'desiccation' from climate change had already begun at the site. The nearby Roman fort Vindolanda is pictured
Dr Andrew Birley, the chief archaeologist at Magna, a Roman fort alongside Hadrian's Wall (shown), said the 'desiccation' from climate change had already begun at the site
The world's oldest boxing gloves and the oldest handwritten message by a woman found anywhere were also unearthed from this site.
In the letter, Claudia Severa, the wife of the commanding officer of a nearby fort, invites her friend Lepidina to her birthday party about 1,900 years ago.
'Oh how much I want you at my birthday party,' Claudia writes.
'You'll make the day so much more fun. I do so hope you can make it. Goodbye, sister, my dearest soul.'
Dr Rosie Everett, of Northumbria University, and colleagues have been assessing the effect of climate change on peatland archaeology across the UK.
She said a number of historic sites in peatlands are under threat, adding: 'The loss of peatlands would have big implications for the understanding of the country's history but also for our climatic history and our environmental history.'
WHAT IS VINDOLANDA AND WHAT WAS ITS ROLE IN ROMAN BRITAIN?
Vindolanda is a Roman fort south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
Soldiers stationed there guarded the Roman road from the River Tyne to Solway Firth.
Wooden tablets were discovered there which are considered the most important examples of military and private correspondence found anywhere in the Roman Empire.
The garrison was home to auxiliary infantry and cavalry units - not parts of Roman legions.
Vindolanda (pictured) is a Roman fort south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England
Roman boots, shoes, armours, jewellery, coins and tablets have all been found there.
In 2006, a richly-decorated silver brooch featuring the figure of Mars was found.
It belonged to Quintus Sollonius, a Gaul, whose name was inscribed on the brooch.
The Vindolanda Roman fort on Hadrians Wall, Northumberland. Soldiers stationed there guarded the Roman road from the River Tyne to Solway Firth
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