JoshHolcomb, J.A., O’Leary, B.L., Fairén, A.G. et al. The emerging archaeological record of Mars. Nat Astron 8, 1490–1492 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02439-w
Intriguing commentary piece on the growing anthropogenic changes to our solar system. Happened to sit next to a colleague at a bar for a very late dinner at #SAA2025Denver who was reading this for one of the authors. I do like my job.
"Humans first reached Mars in 1971, initiating the record of human activity on the Red Planet. As planetary scientists plan for future planetary protection procedures for Mars, they should also consider the developing archaeological record on one of our nearest planets.
"We are currently undergoing the inaugural historical phases of
our species’ migration across our Solar System. From an archaeological perspective, this process is recorded by cultural resources (artefacts) deposited across our Solar System as material objects in orbit, interstellar space and on the surfaces of celestial bodies, including satellites, human-controlled probes, landers, rovers and helicopters. This also includes the non-portable artefacts or ichnological (trace fossil) record of human and rover movement in the form of sampling locations, footprints and trackways ... Collectively, these sites, artefacts and features represent the important material culture — known as space heritage — that is inextricably linked to our species’ evolutionary
history of migration ... "
