Vanishing histories: protecting Scotland's cultural heritage in an era of climate crisis: Orkney.

Subedi, Raju; Zaman, Quazi

Abstract

According to the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022, action is required, and research priority has been given to risks to cultural heritage (Sniffer, 2022). Scotland's vernacular architecture—rooted in local materials, climatic adaptation, and cultural traditions—embodies centuries of place-based knowledge. Yet, these historic structures are increasingly threatened by the accelerating impacts of climate change, including coastal erosion,flooding, and extreme weather. This paper investigates how the climate crisis jeopardises the physical integrity and cultural significance of Scotland's vernacular-built heritage, particularly in rural and island communities such as Orkney, the Hebrides, and Caithness. It explores the limitations of conventional conservation approaches in addressing the dynamic vulnerabilities of these buildings and advocates for climate-adaptive strategies grounded in the principles of vernacular resilience.By integrating architectural analysis, community-based heritage practices, and climate science, the presentation emphasises that safeguarding vernacular architecture is not merely about preserving the past but also about sustaining cultural identity and environmental stewardship in a changing world. The climate crisis is emerging as one of the most significant threats to cultural heritage in the 21st century. In Scotland, the increasing frequency of storms, rising sea levels, and changing moisture regimes are causing physical damage to historic buildings, while also endangering the intangible cultural practices embedded within them. Nowhere is this more evident than in the country's vernacular architecture— structures shaped over centuries by local materials, climatic conditions, and community knowledge. These buildings,from stone-built crofts to turf-roofed blockhouses, reflect deep-rooted relationships between people and place. Yet, they are frequently overlooked in national conservation strategies, leaving them highly vulnerable to environmental change. This paper focuses on the impact of climate change on Scotland's vernacular architectural heritage, examining both the physical degradation of these structures and the cultural erosion that follows. Through case studies from the Orkney Islands, the Western Isles, and Caithness, it explores the inadequacies of existing conservation frameworks. It proposes adaptive, community-based strategies that merge traditional practices with contemporary climate science. In doing so, the paper argues for a paradigm shift—from static preservation to dynamic resilience—in how we value, protect, and sustain vernacular heritage in a warming world.

Citation

SUBEDI, R. and ZAMAN, Q. 2025. Vanishing histories: protecting Scotland's cultural heritage in an era of climate crisis: Orkney. Presented at the 2025 Scottish archaeological forum: building bridges: connecting Scotland's archaeological community (SAF 2025), Edinburgh, UK.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: 2025 Scottish archaeological forum: building bridges: connecting Scotland's archaeological community (SAF 2025)
• Start Date: Oct 25, 2025
• End Date: Oct 26, 2025
• Deposit Date: Nov 4, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 6, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Settlements; Historic sites; Cultural stories; Scotland; Vernacular architectural heritage; Orkney
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/3108996