Journal of Wetland Archaeology 8

Recent survey has built on the work of the pioneering Hullbridge Survey of the 1980s, extending its coverage both geographically and chronologically. New fieldwork has examined areas not previously surveyed, concentrating on Roman, medieval and post-medieval sites and features, rather than the prehistoric land-surface and associated deposits which formed the focus of the Hullbridge work. At the same time, monitoring work was undertaken to assess patterns of change, erosion and new exposures. A series of sites, including stratigraphic sequences, peat deposits, 'submerged forests' and timber structures recorded in the 1980s in different coastal and estuarine locations, were revisited to assess current conditions. Following the initial revisits, selected sites were regularly revisited over a three year period, to record the nature and rate of change. This recent fieldwork forms part of a systematic series of surveys which have extended the work of the Hullbridge survey both inland of the seawalls and down to the edge of the sub-tidal zone. This has enabled an integrated approach to research and management of the coastal historical environment to be developed.

Study of a 13m deep borehole, documenting estuary evolution over the Holocene. Shows gradual drowning of the valley from the Late Glacial to the historic period, with shifts in floral and faunal communities as coastal and estuarine habitats encroach inland with sea-level rise. Supports the three-phase model of Holocene estuary development of Long et al. (2000) which concluded that regional processes control estuary evolution. Also contributes to the wider palaeogeographic and palaeoenvironmental picture within the Solent.

Questions whether the book can address both students of archaeology and wider research questions. Also questions its usefulness outside Ireland. PP-B

Tony Brown (146-148) suggests that the chapter on geology is overly brief, and should either have been extended to cover the major works, or omitted altogether. Notes that there is no map to locate sites mentioned in the chapter on the environment. Also argues that the double page 'features' are out of place, and appear to have been written for a different audience than the rest of the book. \r\n\r\nRobert Van de Noort (149) suggests that the work is lacking in three significant areas: that it does not attempt to tell a story; that it does not attempt to contribute to current archaeological debates (although it shows an understanding of them); and that it is lacking in distribution maps of any sort. Also notes the lack of an effective index. Suggests that a shorter narrative, with a CD containing the data would have improved the book. PP-B