| Abstract: |
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by London Gateway Port Ltd. to undertake an archaeological geophysical survey and assessment of three previously dredged sections of the deep water approach to the London Gateway Port site. This was undertaken as an interim survey as part of on-going development associated with the London Gateway Port site. The survey was jointly undertaken by Wessex Archaeology and the Port of London Authority during November 2011 according to a Method Statement produced as a result of recommendations arising from a previous Strike Report. The dataset comprised sidescan sonar, marine magnetometer and multibeam bathymetry data. The survey covered three study areas, Zones 9-11, 26-36 and 105, alongside four point survey areas identified centred on previously identified anomalies, Strike_8022, 7436_7199, 7436_7200 and 79800_3089. This assessment focuses on identifying any anomalies of archaeological potential uncovered during recent dredging and providing more data on previously identified sites, including those previously subject to Clearance Mitigation Statements. A total of 543 anomalies of potential archaeological interest were found on the seabed across the three study areas. Of these, 44 were identified as being newly identified and of archaeological potential, excluding those anomalies identified which have previously been subject to Clearance Mitigation Statements. A number of these can be grouped together, producing a total of 18 areas of archaeological potential. Generally, these tended to be located on the edges of the dredged channel, with the majority within Zones 26-36, though this was not always the case. In order to help ascertain the precise nature of these anomalies of archaeological potential, it was recommended that these 44 anomalies be investigated further before future dredging took place, preferably by diving, or that they be avoided by future dredging until such an investigation could be undertaken. Any known sites previously subject to Clearance Mitigation Statements are not recommended for further investigation at the time of reporting (Feb 2012), though it was recommended that any future dredging within the vicinity of these sites be undertaken with reference to the recommendations laid out in the Clearance Mitigation Statements for individual sites. |
