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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Our Martian heritage must be preserved, say leading scientists

Robot on Martian landscape
A selfie taken by Nasa’s Perseverance Mars rover. Activity on the red planet should become part of ‘the legacy of space exploration by our species’. Photograph: Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Just as the outline of an iron-age hut or remains of a Roman sword cause excitement today, archaeologists of the future could be brushing Martian dust off metal and marvelling at one of Nasa’s rovers.

Researchers have said that such instruments, as well as other forms of human activity on Mars, including landing sites and debris, must be preserved as part of the archaeological record of space exploration.

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