Traces of the Anthropocene at the Seashore

An Archaeological Context and Perspective

Abstract

This paper proposes a reflection on the contribution of Archaeology to the critical analysis of coastal waste, focusing on plastic residues, and contextualizes this research within the climate crisis and large-scale human intervention in the planetary system. Since the Industrial Revolution, the use of fossil fuels has intensified the human relationship with the environment, radically altering the conditions of life on the planet. Solid waste, particularly plastics, is approached not only as a pollutant but as "technofossils" that reflect mass production, ephemeral consumption, and systematic disposal. The Archaeology of contemporary garbage expands its scope to recognize the material culture of the present as a dense archive of the practices and contradictions of our way of life. The Patos Lagoon Estuary and adjacent areas (ELPA) serve as a laboratory for observing these traces of the Anthropocene, with plastic pollution on Cassino Beach revealing the dynamics of local and tourist consumption, the impact of fishing activities, transport by ocean and river currents, and failures in waste management. The analysis of plastic as a cultural marker of the Anthropocene, from the perspectives of Donna Haraway, Bruno Latour, and Dipesh Chakrabarty, reveals the interdependence between humans and non-humans, the agency of materials, and the need to rethink temporality in the face of the climate crisis. The paper concludes that Archaeology is fundamental for public awareness, the formulation of environmental policies, and the development of resilience strategies, highlighting the need for rigorous control over the industrial production of plastics.