Key Points

• Permafrost thaw is destabilizing the ground at Likneset, causing graves to collapse and burial features to shift.
• Comparisons with earlier excavations show clear deterioration over time, especially in textiles and grave structure integrity.
• The remains document harsh whaling-era conditions, including physical strain, malnutrition, and disease among mostly young adult men.
• Researchers describe the site as an irreplaceable cultural archive that is becoming harder to preserve in place.
• Climate-driven coastal erosion adds to the damage, increasing the pace of loss at Arctic heritage sites.
• The findings raise management questions about whether current Arctic preservation practices can keep pace with warming.