"Sustainability" has become a buzz word in our times, but its frequent use reflects a growing unease about the course of human exploitation of our planet. Nuclear catastrophe was the nightmare of the 20th century, but ecological collapse is the nightmare of the 21st. As the human population grows, as the global climate warms from greenhouse gas emissions, and as plant and animal species disappear along with their natural habitats, humanity must address the question of the sustainability of natural and socioeconomic systems. How long can we continue the current mode of economic exploitation without undermining the natural systems on which we depend?

Because the sustainability issue involves the complexities of human interaction with the environment, archaeology has a critically valuable role to play in the discussion. Indeed, the time-depth perspective of archaeology may be essential to a full understanding of the processes that have led us to this situation. And the study of past human responses to threats of this kind may offer guidance as we consider how to mobilize a worldwide response in our own day to a threat that may not be obvious until it is too late to avert.

As a contribution to the global discussion of this critical problem, we have invited a series of archaeologists researching the matter to submit Audio Commentaries about the lessons that archaeology may offer the modern world. In this way, we hope to promote a dialogue that will encourage further archaeological research with applications to this and other modern problems.

Our first Audio Commentary on sustainability is by Dr. Christopher Scarre of the University of Cambridge. Dr. Scarre approaches the issue as one who studies early state-level societies around the world. We offer our sincere thanks to Dr. Scarre for sharing his thoughts.

To hear the interview, click on the bandwidth for your player below.

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Dr. Christopher Scarre