Scientists advocate for the cataloging of human artifacts on Mars, including spacecraft, landers, and rovers, to document humanity's initial steps in interplanetary exploration. Anthropologist Justin Holcomb from the University of Kansas emphasizes that humanity is in an 'inaugural historical phase' of migration across the solar system.
As of 2022, approximately 22,000 pounds (9,979 kg) of human-made debris are scattered across Mars. Since 1971, at least sixteen missions have contributed to the Martian archaeological record, with sites including landing and crash locations associated with various artifacts.
Significant historical artifacts include the USSR's Mars 2 lander, which was one of the first to reach another planetary surface, and the American Viking 1 lander, the first to operate on Mars successfully. The Ingenuity helicopter also marks a milestone as the first autonomous aircraft to fly on another planet.
While much of this debris is labeled 'space trash,' Holcomb argues for its archaeological and environmental significance. He stresses the need to preserve these materials instead of treating them as waste, noting that they represent the first material records of human presence beyond Earth.
Holcomb highlights the challenges of understanding how Martian artifacts degrade due to cosmic radiation, solar winds, and interactions with Martian elements. He calls for a dedicated field of planetary geoarchaeology to study these effects and to establish a system for tracking human-made materials on Mars and other celestial bodies.
He concludes that these artifacts are crucial for understanding our historical timeline of migration, comparable to early human tools found on Earth.