West Coast Palaeolandscapes Survey Main
University of Birmingham, Dyfed Archaeological Trust, 2013. https://doi.org/10.5284/1018087. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © University of Birmingham unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Prof
Vince
Gaffney
Chair in Landscape Archaeology
School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1198
- ALSF Project Number: 5238
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1018087
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
In 2009 a pilot study for the West Coast area was commissioned by English Heritage building on the results of the North Sea Palaeolandscape Project (NSPP). It sought to investigate the methodology of utilising a wider variety of seismic data sources to determine the extent and nature of the submerged landscapes contained within an area of the Irish Sea. The results of the pilot project identified several areas within the UK where sufficient data, albeit often in the form of older 2D survey, would support comparative work. The west coast of Britain was identified as a particularly interesting area, both archaeologically and methodologically, and the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel areas were highlighted for further study. Any information gleaned on the palaeolandscape here would inform our understanding of the development of the Mesolithic and, potentially, the Palaeolithic, in both England and Wales. Information gained would also have considerable value for our understanding of the archaeological records of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In addition any knowledge provided would assist heritage and mineral management strategy of offshore development control within these areas.
The West Coast Palaeolandscapes Survey therefore sought to investigate the potential for submerged landscapes within the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel. The specific outcomes of the project were:
- To exploit the methodology developed during the pilot study to utilise existing 2D seismic and related data to improve the understanding of the submerged prehistoric resource of study areas in the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel and to integrate the data with that from the Pilot study.
- To apply the existing methodology for 3D datasets (where available) to assist in the provision of extensive landscape data for the Irish Sea.
- To use these generated datasets to investigate and explore the Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Landscapes within the study areas, and where possible map these landscape features to assist heritage management strategy with respect to marine aggregate extraction and development.
- To disseminate the results as a technical report and popular bilingual publication for Wales.
