Relics of Nature: An Archaeology of Natural Heritage - Reflections on an ongoing research project

Relics of Nature: An Archaeology of Natural Heritage 

Þóra Pétursdóttir

Natures have for a long time been framed, managed and valued as heritage. Traditionally, particular focus has been on natural phenomena of aesthetic and/or scientific value and landscapes that boast of rare and outstanding features. But what is natural heritage today? The ongoing research project Relics of Nature: An Archaeology of Natural Heritage in the High North, asks this basic question while also investigating how climate change and a looming anticipation of loss is possibly altering traditional understandings of natural heritage. As the project is soon coming to a close (autumn 2026), this lecture will reflect on some of its results, asking: What is natural heritage in the Anthropocene? How are natural processes of change and uncertainty affected by a growing fear for loss? And how is this reflected in care, memory and mourning of natural phenomena?

Fyrirlesturinn er hluti af Nýjar rannsóknir í fornleifafræði 2025, fyrirlestraröð Félags fornleifafræðinga og námsbrautar í fornleifafræði við Háskóla Íslands. Fyrirlesturinn fer fram á Zoom, hægt að fylgjast með í streymi hér: Fyrirlesturinn í streymi