Marine Geoarchaeological Assessment

Submerged terrestrial landscapes can be buried deep beneath the current sea bed, and date from a time when sea-levels were significantly lower than present day. Wessex Archaeology’s specialist team of geoarchaeologists use geotechnical data and samples to interpret and characterise these landscapes, usually in conjunction with our world leading Marine Geophysics team.

Marine geoarchaeological work is usually carried out under a staged process, allowing the archaeological potential of the sediments to be identified and investigated using a targeted approach proportionate to the significance of the findings. A geoarchaeological desk-based assessment can also provide an overarching view of archaeological potential for schemes such as offshore wind farms which cross both land and sea.