Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management in Archaeological Contexts. A Protocol for Emergency Response amid Extreme Weather Events.

Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, reshaping the contexts in which heritage assets were established and have evolved through time. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, rising sea levels, and increasingly frequent and destructive extreme events pose significant threats to cultural heritage, of which archaeological one is among the most vulnerable (ICOMOS, 2019). Adressing these challenges requires an urgent paradigm shift in current heritage management to proactively address the uncertainties associated with intense meteorological events. This necessitates a stronger emphasis on systematic and continuous conservation efforts to reduce existing vulnerabilities while integrating new strategic awareness to face this new reality. Effectively addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of both current risks and projected future changes, ensuring that available knowledge is incorporated into existing risk management practices leveraging all available resources. By doing so, emergency situations can be managed more efficiently and systematically, minimizing unplanned responses before and after major weather events. This study examines three archaeological sites previously impacted by intense rainfall events — the archaeological parks of Baratti-Populonia (Tuscany) and Suasa (Marche), along with the archaeological area of Claterna (Emilia-Romagna). Through these case studies, it underscores the critical role of disaster risk management strategies in safeguarding archaeological heritage from severe metereological events. In this context, it aims to present a structured intervention protocol for both pre- and post-emergency phases, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning to minimize the impact on ancient structures.