Geoarchaeology Regional Review of Marine Deposits along the Coastline of Southern England
Author(s): Scott Timpany
Coastal deposition has led to the accumulation of some of the thickest deposits of Holocene sediments in the British Isles. Often permanently waterlogged, these sediments provide ideal conditions for the preservation both of archaeological remains and palaeoenvironmental material. They therefore represent a geoarchaeological resource of the highest value and have been the source of some of the most exciting archaeological discoveries of recent times. This review aims to provide a synthesis of the location and nature of geoarchaeologically significant marine deposits around the southern English coastline and identify any areas where future work is needed. The coast continues to be a dynamic environment and the review comes at a time when the United Kingdom’s coastal sediments are increasingly at risk of erosion, caused by rising sea-levels driven by climate change. The review therefore includes deposits that formed in a terrestrial environment but are now submerged as a result of a rise in relative sea-level.
- Report Number:
- 4/2009
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 53
- Keywords:
- Environmental Studies Geoarchaeology Radiocarbon Dating Soil/Sediment
