Drowning Heritage

"A story connecting the past, present, and future through archaeology and the sea"

Web map: Drowning Heritage & Physical model: Doggerland

What it is about

Our project produced a web map showing archaeological sites and projected sea-level rise using SSP scenarios to highlight which sites may be underwater in the next 100 years. We also created a physical map depicting Doggerland from 16,000 BCE onwards. By combining distributed data, we aimed to make archaeological SLR data more accessible for researchers. But also to raise awareness and action on heritage vulnerability in coastal landscapes. We crafted a narrative that shows how climate change affects the past, present, and future.

How we built it

We modeled IPCC AR6 inundation scenarios using Copernicus elevation data in ArcGIS Pro and intersected the results with national heritage registers to identify at-risk sites. The full methodology is available in the web map’s "About" section. We built the interactive map using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with OpenLayers and Proj4js as the engine. To contrast the digital future, we visualized the past: At the TU Munich Makerspace, we laser-cut a model of Doggerland, layering wood to illustrate the landmass changes between 16,000 and 7,000 BCE.

Challenges we ran into

Finding and harmonizing inconsistent heritage data from five nations was difficult. Physically, the laser cutter failed to fully penetrate the base layer, forcing us to finish cutting it out manually.

What we're proud of

We are very proud of our project’s creativity, blending a physical and a web map to make complex data more accessible while creating a narrative that shows climate change’s impact across landscapes and time.

What we learned

We learned to bridge complex GIS analysis with web map development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while also using laser-cutting tools to create a physical map and support it with a clear narrative.

What's next

Future work should incorporate dynamic factors, such as storm surges. The framework is adaptable, allowing usage in other regions or integration with the UNESCO World Heritage List of Sites in Danger.