Driven by expertise of the planning system in the coastal environment
Extensive environmental and sand dune experience along with industrial archaeology capabilities enable Wardell Armstrong Archaeology to offer the most effective, efficient and knowledgable coastal archaeological services currently available in the UK.
What is coastal archaeology?
Coastal archaeology is concerned with the activities within the area where the sea meets the land. It is a zone of transition from one environment to another and can include areas such as:-
- Those that are permanently underwater - especially parts of structures that extend into dry land environments like quays and jetties
- Intertidal areas that are inundated for some of the time
- Fully terrestrial environments.
It is an environmental boundary zone and as such presents both opportunities and technical challenges for archaeological study.
Knowledge of the drivers and planning systems present in the coastal environment, along with detailed archaeological knowledge of heritage importance and technical aspects of ports, landing places and seaside resorts are crucial factors for Wardell Armstrong Archaeology’s customers.
Many projects generated by developer-led archaeology deal with heritage assets of the recent past in urban areas, which are frequently linked to ports and resorts - a crucial requirement for a combination of terrestrial archaeological knowledge and marine planning system experience.
Reducing the risk of maritime archaeological discovery
An intertidal or foreshore survey can help to ensure that archaeological issues are understood and mitigated in the planning stages. Relevant services may include:-
- Wading and walkovers
- The recording of archaeological features, vessels and structures by hand or by using the latest technology
- The collection of environmental samples and the interpretation and presentation of the results.
With staff from a variety of academic backgrounds and industry experience covering the engineering, marine survey, metric survey and consultancy sectors, the coastal archaeology team can devise pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to fit a project brief and budget.
Read about Saltom Pit - coastal archaeology at England’s oldest undersea coal mine »
