The contributions are based on the conference "On Melting Ground", which took place at the smac (Staatliches Museum für Archäologie Chemnitz) from 20th to 22nd October 2021 and served as the scholarly preparation for a special exhibition at the smac on the archaeology of the Arctic entitled "On Thin Ice", originally planned for the winter of 2023/24. The exhibition was intended to present, among other things, the spectacular new discoveries from Arctic Siberia, such as finds of skis and sledges dating back to the 8th millennium BCE, as well as ivory carvings from between 500 BCE and 1500 CE. The preservation conditions for organic materials such as wood are exceptionally good in permafrost. However, as a consequence of global warming brought about by climate change, these archaeological remains are now at risk of disappearing before we are able to research and conserve them. Hence the title »Auf dünnem Eis« (»On thin ice«).
The exhibition’s stated aim was to represent the diversity of a global habitat and cultural sphere and to draw attention to its endangerment. Against the backdrop of the Russian war against Ukraine, the resulting cessation of research/cooperation, and the cancellation of the exhibition, this conference volume assumes a particular significance: it not only provides a comprehensive overview of the state of research as of the time of the conference but also stands as a contemporary document attesting to the influence of international politics on science and culture.