Climate Change

The changing climate is having a tangible impact on the site of Magna Fort, here at the Roman Army Museum. Beneath the ground, Magna has waterlogged or anaerobic soil, which provides the ideal conditions for the preservation of organic materials such as wood, leather, and metal. This allows us to learn more about the ancient Roman societies that existed here 2,000 years ago.

Our weather station at Magna.

However, the effects of climate change, such as heavy rainfall or intense periods of heat, threaten to disrupt this extremely fragile preservation ecosystem which exists underground. If we lose these objects these objects, we lose the rich cultural history they can provide.

The Vindolanda Trust are working hard to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change on these ancient archaeological sites. We are collecting data from various environmental monitoring stations at both Magna and Vindolanda fort sites, to enable us to better understand changes in the soil.

Environmental monitoring in the field.

We will be sharing this information with the wider archaeological community, in the hope that understanding the archaeological consequences of climate change in the present, will help inform our future, whilst preserving the past.  

Current oxygen reduction potential of the soil at Magna Fort.

Please check out these interesting and useful resources below, to learn more about climate change.

UK Climate Risk

BBC News – What Is Climate Change?

NASA Climate Kids

NASA Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

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