Aims and Objectives

One of the handaxes discovered from Area 240This project has three core aims.

Primarily, Wessex Archaeology aims to suggest ways in which future areas proposed for aggregate extraction can be investigated to identify sites of Palaeolithic interest. During this project, Area 240 - a known site of Palaeolithic interest - will be used to test a wide range of archaeological techniques with the objective of suggesting those most effective for this type of investigation. These will then inform future aggregate licence applications to maximise our ability to identify, explore and protect areas of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic significance.

This project will also provide a firm understanding of the area from which the finds were dredged and in turn will provide greater insight into the historic environment of this region as a whole. The east coast dredging zone in which Area 240 is located is one of several targeted by aggregate dredging companies working around the UK and a firmer understanding of the material and potential will help us to assess dredging licence applications in the future.

Wessex Archaeology is a charitable trust dedicated to education. The final aim of the project is to pass on the knowledge gained throughout this study to both public and professional audiences. To learn more about how the results of the project are being disseminated publicly, visit the Time Travelling by Water website.

Pupils at Edward Worlledge school get to grips with archaeology