Targeting the Mesolithic: Interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological prospection in the Brown Bank area, southern North Sea
Missiaen, Tine; Fitch, Simon; Harding, Rachel; Muru, Merle; Fraser, Andy; De Clercq, Maikel; Moreno, David Garcia; Versteeg, Wim; Busschers, Freek S.; van Heteren, Sytze; Hijma, Marc P.; Reichart, Gert Jan; Gaffney, Vince
(2021) Quaternary International, volume 584, pp. 141 - 151
(Article)
Abstract
This paper describes some results of the research undertaken over the Brown Bank area during recent (2018/2019) geoarchaeological surveys in the North Sea which included seismic imaging, shallow (vibro)coring and dredging. It examines the benefits of simultaneous high-resolution (0.5 – 1 m) and ultra-high-resolution (10–20 cm) seismic survey techniques and
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a staged approach to resolving the submerged Holocene landscape in the highest possible detail for the purpose of targeted prospecting for archaeological material from the Mesolithic landscape of Doggerland. The materials recovered from such surveys offer significantly greater information due to an enhanced understanding of the context in which they were recovered. The importance of this information cannot be understated archaeologically, as few locations on land provide the opportunity to recover archaeological finds in situ within preserved landscapes. Moreover, it allows offshore areas of potential human activity to be prospected with some certainty of success.
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Keywords: Brown bank, Doggerland, Holocene, Palaeolandscape, Sea-level rise, Seismic, Earth-Surface Processes
ISSN: 1040-6182
Publisher: Elsevier Limited
Note: Funding Information: The study was partially supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant (project number 670518 ) “Europe's Lost Frontiers Project” at The Department of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford (UK). The study was also supported by an Estonian Research Council grant (project number PUTJD829 ). Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the help and assistance of the following groups and individuals ? Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Bradford University, Ghent University, TNO - Geological Survey of the Netherlands, Deltares Research Institute, Utrecht University, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and the crews of RV Belgica, RV Simon Stevin and RV Pelagia. The authors would also like to thank IHS Software, Innomar and Dr. Ron Yorston for the provision of the software used in this project. The study was partially supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant (project number 670518) ?Europe's Lost Frontiers Project? at The Department of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford (UK). The study was also supported by an Estonian Research Council grant (project number PUTJD829). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors
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