AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Abstract

Pandemics like COVID-19 can have multifaceted impacts on the archaeological sites, encompassing social, economic and environmental impacts. Researches carried out previously, covered different aspects that positively or negatively impact the archaeological site in segregated way focusing only one-dimensional view to actual problem. Present study was carried out to develop a criterion based interactive and comprehensive framework for evaluation of impacts of COVID-19 on archaeological sites. Findings revealed that impacts of pandemics on archaeological sites are dynamic in nature and depends largely on non-pharmaceutical interventions including travel restriction and closure of archaeological sites taken by the government to control the pandemic. These interventions are not constant; government intervenes in accordance with dynamics of pandemics in the country and at global levels. Thus, to study the impact of COVID-19 on archaeological sites, social, economic and environmental factors should be considered in relation to epidemiological factors and consequent government intervention. Therefore, there is a need to develop context specific indicator against these criteria to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on archaeological sites