This study delves into the question of whether archaeologists exhibit a particular fascination with crises and how this fascination relates to their study of climate change and migration. Archaeological research has increasingly examined the role of climate change in the collapse of past societies, representing a captivating area of scholarly inquiry. In the same vein, the concept of migration has often been framed as a crisis or a crisis-induced event triggered by factors such as climate change, resource depletion, or population pressure. However, a deeper examination, incorporating insights from humanist and motivational psychology, underscored by ‘expectancy theory’, unveils a nuanced facet of human decision-making. This approach suggests that individuals often make choices based on their perceptions of value and anticipated outcomes, which may not always align with strictly rational evidence or organised rules, leading to impulsive or seemingly random decisions. In the context of climate migration, this means that individuals’ decisions to migrate may be influenced by a complex interplay of factors beyond the crisis narrative.
By examining various case studies, this research challenges the prevailing narrative that frames migration primarily as a crisis event. In addition, this representation highlights the critical concept of positionality in archaeology, emphasising the need for researchers to reflect on their own biases and perspectives when interpreting archaeological data and drawing conclusions about past societies. This exploration encourages a more comprehensive and thoughtful approach to archaeological research that recognises the multidimensional nature of human behaviour and the role of archaeologists in shaping our understanding of the past.

This database systematically reviews 55 scholarly contributions addressing mobility in the context of crisis, as well as 60 contributions that include the terms crisis, collapse, or disaster in their titles or keywords.