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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Policy & Risk Sign in to save

‘COVID waste’ and social media as method: an archaeology of personal protective equipment and its contribution to policy

Antiquity 2021 27 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
John Schofield, John Schofield, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Estelle Praet, Joanna Vince, Estelle Praet, Estelle Praet, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Kathy A. Townsend John Schofield, John Schofield, John Schofield, John Schofield, John Schofield, Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend Joanna Vince, Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend Joanna Vince, Joanna Vince, Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend John Schofield, Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend John Schofield, Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend Kathy A. Townsend

Summary

This study argues that discarded personal protective equipment from the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a novel archaeological record of contemporary environmental pollution, and proposes that archaeologists using social media analysis can contribute meaningful insights to sustainable waste management policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a viral archive—an archaeological record of history in the making. One aspect of this archive is increased environmental pollution, not least through the discarded facemasks and gloves that characterise the pandemic. This article—directed specifically at archaeologists—argues that an archaeological perspective on ‘COVID waste’ using social media analysis can help to highlight environmental pollution, and that by giving this waste the status of archaeological material and working with other disciplines, archaeologists can contribute to sustainable, policy-led solutions to combat environmental pollution.

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