THE AGE OF MELT What Glaciers, Ice Mummies, and Ancient Artifacts Teach Us about Climate, Culture, and a Future without Ice

Early on, the story of Otzi, whose 3,000-thousand-year-old body was uncovered in the Italian Alps in 1991, is retold. Stacy Gonzalez brings a touch of suspense to the story, and she strikes a sympathetic chord as she narrates Otzi's pain while dying. Science writer Lisa Baril explores ice patch archaeology, the field that uncovers the history behind artifacts--and bodies--found when the ice melts. Gonzalez sounds amazed as Baril visits a glacier and an ice cave, and she reproduces a shepherd's call to emphasize a point. Her voice softens as she narrates the ethical concerns behind this work. Concern over climate change, which could diminish the world's ice, is constantly in the background as Baril considers what can be learned from these discoveries. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]