Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge

Coastal areas in Africa are vital for settlement, livelihoods, and socio–economic development, and host diverse heritage sites from the early Stone Age to the present. However, these sites face growing threats from development and climate change. The absence of regional sea level models and digitize...

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Main Authors: Pamela Ochungo, Nicolas Sagna, Victoria Neema, Akinbowale Akintayo, Adama Athie, Angela Kabiru, Assane Ndiaye, Elias Michaut, Stefania Merlo, Paul Lane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Maps
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17445647.2025.2487454
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author Pamela Ochungo
Nicolas Sagna
Victoria Neema
Akinbowale Akintayo
Adama Athie
Angela Kabiru
Assane Ndiaye
Elias Michaut
Stefania Merlo
Paul Lane
author_facet Pamela Ochungo
Nicolas Sagna
Victoria Neema
Akinbowale Akintayo
Adama Athie
Angela Kabiru
Assane Ndiaye
Elias Michaut
Stefania Merlo
Paul Lane
author_sort Pamela Ochungo
collection DOAJ
description Coastal areas in Africa are vital for settlement, livelihoods, and socio–economic development, and host diverse heritage sites from the early Stone Age to the present. However, these sites face growing threats from development and climate change. The absence of regional sea level models and digitized archaeological records hampers effective threat mapping and mitigation. A new digital dataset documents the distribution and characteristics of archaeological sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal. It combines diachronic coastal change analysis (1985–2022) using advanced remote sensing. This preliminary African study reveals coastline retreat near heritage sites in Mombasa (Kenya) and Tanga (Tanzania) and shoreline increase in the Saloum Delta (Senegal). Impacts vary, but many sites remain moderately affected. Still, land use changes, especially industrial and urban development, pose significant risks. These findings offer a valuable evidence base for policy development, adaptive management, and targeted actions to safeguard Africa's cultural heritage in changing coastal environments.
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language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Journal of Maps
spelling doaj-art-2373d8cf00c042879138b7863d3fccf42025-08-20T03:14:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Maps1744-56472025-12-0121110.1080/17445647.2025.2487454Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledgePamela Ochungo0Nicolas Sagna1Victoria Neema2Akinbowale Akintayo3Adama Athie4Angela Kabiru5Assane Ndiaye6Elias Michaut7Stefania Merlo8Paul Lane9British Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, KenyaInstitut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, Université Cheikh-Anta-Diop, Dakar, SenegalDigital Earth Africa, Pretoria, KenyaDepartment of Archaeology, University of York, York, UKInstitut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, Université Cheikh-Anta-Diop, Dakar, SenegalBritish Institute in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, KenyaInstitut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire, Université Cheikh-Anta-Diop, Dakar, SenegalMcDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKMcDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKMcDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKCoastal areas in Africa are vital for settlement, livelihoods, and socio–economic development, and host diverse heritage sites from the early Stone Age to the present. However, these sites face growing threats from development and climate change. The absence of regional sea level models and digitized archaeological records hampers effective threat mapping and mitigation. A new digital dataset documents the distribution and characteristics of archaeological sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal. It combines diachronic coastal change analysis (1985–2022) using advanced remote sensing. This preliminary African study reveals coastline retreat near heritage sites in Mombasa (Kenya) and Tanga (Tanzania) and shoreline increase in the Saloum Delta (Senegal). Impacts vary, but many sites remain moderately affected. Still, land use changes, especially industrial and urban development, pose significant risks. These findings offer a valuable evidence base for policy development, adaptive management, and targeted actions to safeguard Africa's cultural heritage in changing coastal environments.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17445647.2025.2487454Remote sensingcoastal erosionheritage sitesLandsat imageryMNDWIAfrica
spellingShingle Pamela Ochungo
Nicolas Sagna
Victoria Neema
Akinbowale Akintayo
Adama Athie
Angela Kabiru
Assane Ndiaye
Elias Michaut
Stefania Merlo
Paul Lane
Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
Journal of Maps
Remote sensing
coastal erosion
heritage sites
Landsat imagery
MNDWI
Africa
title Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
title_full Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
title_fullStr Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
title_full_unstemmed Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
title_short Shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal: integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
title_sort shoreline dynamics and cultural heritage sites in kenya tanzania and senegal integrating remote sensing and archaeological knowledge
topic Remote sensing
coastal erosion
heritage sites
Landsat imagery
MNDWI
Africa
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17445647.2025.2487454
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