Fieldwork in 2010
The A2S fieldwork programme has involved international teams in the projects in all three countries. The fieldwork has enabled underwater archaeological experience to be shared amongst staff and volunteers from the three partner organisations.
UK Fieldwork
In 2010 a range of sites have been investigated in the UK across the Solent and to the south of the Isle of Wight, as illustrated by this map:
The fieldwork in the UK has been closely associated with the HWTMA's ongoing research aims, and the support of A2S has been integral to the investigation of the following sites:
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Alum Bay wreck site excavation
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SS Azemmour survey
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Bouldnor Cliff survey
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Caduceus survey
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SS Coquetdale survey
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Flower of Ugie monitoring
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Hazardous Protected wreck site excavation
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HMS Impregnable monitoring
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HMS Invincible Protected wreck site monitoring
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Landing Craft project
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SS Londonier survey
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Needles Protected wreck site monitoring
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Saxmundham survey
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Smyrna survey
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HMS Velox survey
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HMS Warwick Deeping survey
French Fieldwork
In France, Adramar ran four weeks of fieldwork from St Malo off the coast Department of Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan consisting of geophysical surveys as well as diver investigation. A variety of sites were investigated and baseline data for the region was collected.
Belgium Fieldwork
In Belgium, HWTMA staff joined our colleagues from the VIOE in Nieuwpoort for a week's fieldwork on the wreck site Buiten Ratel. The site is that of a wooden sailing ship, with substantial sections of hull remaining buried under the sediments. Artefacts previously recovered from the wreck site, including clay pipes, pewter spoons and a watch in a gold case, have been dated to the mid-18th century. The fieldwork in 2010 focused on the production of a detailed site plan of the exposed elements of the wreck.
Collaborative Fieldwork
HWTMA and Adramar also collaborated on a joint project in Fermanville, near Cherbourg. This site consists of a Middle Paleolithic submerged landscape, first discovered through the presence of submerged peat deposits in 1968. Later dives on the site during the 1970's and 1980's revealed thousands of worked flint objects on and under the seabed at the base of a granite cliff 18m below sea level.
This site is the oldest submerged prehistoric site in northern Europe and its study is vital to research into hominin adaptation and dispersals as the climate deteriorated at the beginning of the last Ice Age. Understanding Neanderthal capabilities and population dynamics during this period is integral to our understanding of their migration, social organisation and ultimately their demise. The fieldwork this year focused on the establishment of a site grid with reference points and an assessment of lithic distribution.
Work to Follow
The fieldwork is ongoing and will allow the international team to amass a wealth of information that will contribute to the A2S data resource and enhance our common maritime archaeological record. This will provide new sources of information for the production of educational materials, including information on, and photographic and video records of, maritime archaeological sites in three countries. This will act as the foundation for an extensive program of outreach and dissemination, which will be used for exhibition materials and to allow the Maritime Bus to reach new audiences across the Channel.