Data copyright © Caroline Wickham-Jones unless otherwise stated
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Archaeology Data Service
Dept. of Archaeology
The King's Manor
University of York
Y01 7EP
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1904 323954
Fieldwork comprised three elements:
Prior to fieldwork existing maps and sites and monuments records were searched for known sites. In addition, local knowledge comprised an important element of information both prior to and during field survey.
The coastal survey was designed to cover the entire modern coastline as well as any visible raised beaches. To this end the coastline was walked by a team of three experienced surveyors. They recorded all rockshelters and caves (both with and without obvious archaeological remains), lithic scatters and any identifiable open middens.
The test pitting programme was designed to sample as many of the sites identified in the coastal survey as possible, with the aim of characterizing their deposits and collecting samples for dating. The aim was where possible, to dig two test pits at any one site, usually in contrasting locations. This usually involved return visits to sites and the transport of sample material back to base for processing. In some cases, however, test pits had to be dug and material processed on site during the survey work.
Detailed excavation was only possible on one site, that at Sand. Sand was identified as a midden site of Mesolithic date in 1999, the first year of fieldwork. Excavation took place over a four week period in 2000. The excavation was designed to assess the size of the midden, the character of the deposits both within and outwith the midden, the relationship of the midden to the non-midden deposits around it, and to obtain archaeological and paleoenvironmental samples relating to the archaeological occupation of the site, for dating and wider analysis.
Post excavation work took place from 2000 - 2004 and involved a wide range of specialists from many different Institutions.