The objectives of the geophysical surveys were divided into two groups;Area Methods and Ephemeral Sites, and Sites in Deeper Water.

Area methods and ephemeral sites

• Refine and develop methodologies related to area survey methods and the survey of ephemeral sites;

• Compare and contrast substantial, purposely-collected datasets from relevant and independent survey scenarios;

• Standardise the approach to reviewing typical geophysical datasets and to discerning whether an acoustic signal is anomalous or not;

• Inform briefs and specifications for the Levels of Archaeological Recording (i.e. Level 1, especially Level 1b) established in Round 1 [insert link].

Sites in deeper water

• Develop and refine methodologies for assessing, evaluating and recording wreck sites in deeper water;

• Refine the use of geophysical techniques for sites in deeper water and assess the effects on data quality (including positional issues) that may arise from their use in deeper water;

• Assess the effectiveness of undertaking archaeological recording (to Levels 2 and 3) using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and geophysical techniques only;

• Assess environmental issues (e.g. depth, distance from port, fetch) in respect of working on sites in deeper water;

• Assess infrastructure issues (e.g. anchoring, tow cable handling, and umbilical handling) in respect of working on sites in deeper water.