Ancient Wood and Climate Resilience: Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps

Authors

  • Cyril Dworsky
  • Barbara Fath
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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.2.13

Published

2026-01-12

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Water Management in World Heritage Properties at a Time of Climate Change

Section

methodologies and case studies

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Cyril Dworsky, Barbara Fath

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ancient Wood and Climate Resilience: Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps. (2026). Blue Papers, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.2.13

Keywords:

UNESCO World Heritage, prehistoric archaeology, water-adaptive architecture, climate resilience, cultural transmission networks

Abstract

As climate change threatens heritage sites, modern settlements and landscapes around the world through flooding and rising sea levels, closer examination of prehistoric innovations may inspire solutions based on practices that have been tested for over 7000 years. Elevated architecture, natural ventilation systems and minimal hydrological impact provide actionable blueprints for sustainable building and planning today. By integrating these time-tested strategies with modern technology, the UNESCO World Heritage property of Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, transforming ancient techniques into modern climate adaptation tools.

Author Biographies

  • Cyril Dworsky

    Cyril Dworsky coordinated the nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps for the Austrian Ministry of Culture. He is the national manager of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” for Austria and managing director of the Kuratorium Pfahlbauten (Association for the Curation of Pile Dwellings) since 2013. In addition to his work as an archaeologist and cultural heritage manager, he is an employee of the Children’s Office at the University of Vienna, where he carries out international projects in the field of science communication and access to research and higher education for young people.

  • Barbara Fath

    Barbara Fath studied prehistoric archaeology and historical anthropology at the University of Freiburg. After working as a research assistant at the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Freiburg and doing various freelance work in the museum and exhibition sector, she has been managing director of the Swiss Coordination Group association and the International Coordination Group working group since 2016.

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