DredgedUp

Protocol Update

from the past

Autumn 2009

Issue 5

Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

The Implementation Service is now in itsfourth successful year and wharves andvessels around the country continue toreport archaeological finds that have beenretrieved from deep below the wavesduring the course of aggregate dredging.There have been an incredible range of finds discovered since the last issue of Dredged Up and new reports are regularlyuploaded. Some of the latest finds areexplored on page 2 of this issue.If you have any questions about finds, findsreporting or the Protocol you can nowcontact your Wessex Archaeology teamby emailing:We are happy to advise on all finds andfinds reporting issues, and answer anyquestions that you have about the Protocol.protocol@wessexarch.co.uk.Welcome to issue five of Dredged Up,the popular newsletter of the BMAPA/EHProtocol Implementation Service.

Wessex Archaeology's Gemma Ingason talking to staff at Brett's Cliffe Wharf during a Protocol Awareness visitStaff at UMD's Shoreham Wharf learn about our heritage

News

The BMAPA/EH Protocol is the first of its kindin this country providing mitigation for thediscovery of archaeological material duringthe course of marine aggregate extraction.In response to its success, other marineindustries have begun to use the Protocol asa template for good practice during marinework. This demonstrates just how effectiveand useful the scheme is, which is entirelydue to the hard work and dedication of aggregate industry staff.

Copies are being distributed during Awarenessvisits. To book an Awareness visit contactGemma Ingason at Wessex Archaeology+44 (0)1722 326 867protocol@wessexarch.co.ukThe Awareness Programme which supportsthe Protocol has produced a new series of handouts for wharves and vessels which giveadvice on the reporting and treatment of finds. These can be viewed online athttp://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/docs.html

Since the last issue of Dredged Up a further88 individual finds have been recognised,retrieved and reported by industry staff.The majority of finds have been made of metal and have varied from ships' fittingsto pocket watches. One of the mostenigmatic metal finds fromthe past six months wasthe top of a flagpoledredged from Area 319,which was discoveredat CEMEX's NorthfleetWharf by R. Burnham.Two new ceramic finds have been reportedincluding a relish pot depicting a scenefrom the Napoleonic battle of la Albuera,which was fought on the 16th May 1811.This pot dates from the late 19th centuryand was found in several pieces at CEMEX'sPortslade Wharf by Andy Roberts andMichael Pettitt. The pot sherds, which weredredged from Area 137, were onlyrecovered thanks to the dedication andenthusiasm of staff at the wharf.

Finds from 2008/2009

Flagpole finial found by Roger Burnhamat CEMEX's Northfleet Wharf Late 19th century relish pot found by Andy Roberts and Michael Pettitt at Cemex's Portslade Wharf Shale artefact found by Sibby at Kendall's Shoreham Wharf

Sibby workingat Kendall'sShoreham Wharf discovered, amongst otherartefacts dredged from Area 351,a large piece of worked shale. This is avery rare find and experts believe that itcould date from the Romano-British period,nearly 2000 years ago. Its exact functionremains unknown, although a number of suggestions have been considered, varyingfrom an ancient chopping board for food,to ballast onboard a vessel.Recognising stone finds amongst aggregateis understandably difficult butincredibly John Quayle workingon the discoveredand reported what is thoughtto be a stone bead whichmeasures only 1cmdiameter. It wasfound amongst cargofrom Area 127.The quantity and quality of reported findsdemonstrates the hard work, care andattention shown by aggregate industry staff and we'd like to thank you for yourcontinued enthusiasm.

Arco Avon

0 5 cm0 5 cm

Stone bead discovered by John Quayle on board HAML's Arco Avon

2 cm10

Mystery on the seabed

WWII Hawker Hurricane tail wheel strut from Area 474discovered by A. Godwin & S. Engley at HAML's Denton Wharf The Arco AvonHanson AggregatesMarine Limited

Area 474

No archaeologicalmaterial wasreported by thefrom the vicinityof the obstruction. Infact only one find hasbeen reported fromArea 474 in the four years of the Protocol –a Hawker Hurricane tail wheel strutdredged earlier this year and featured inDredged Up issue four.The exact nature of the obstruction has notyet been determined. The potential existsfor the anomaly to represent an unknownwreck but this seems unlikely as aircraftand shipwrecks would be expected to yieldsignificant finds that the would havepicked up with the cargo.The obstruction is currently thought to bea boulder deposited in this location by iceduring a past ice age. A 50m exclusion zonehas been established around it for theprotection of ships working in the area andthe protection of the presently unidentifiedanomaly. The exclusion zone and the natureof the obstruction will be reviewed duringall further monitoring surveys in this area.

Avon Avon

On 28th February 2009 the wasworking in Area 474, approximately 36kmsouth east of Beachy Head, when thedredging gear impacted an obstruction onthe seabed. This is very uncommon withindredging areas as extensive surveys areconducted prior to the granting of thelicence to dredge in order to locate andidentify possible obstructions. The aimof this is not only to protect ships anddredging gear, but also to protectsubmerged archaeology such as shipwrecksor aircraft on the seabed.Staff on board the reportedthe incident and the presence of theobstruction was reported to WessexArchaeology as the Protocol encompassesdiscoveries made on the seabed as wellas those made on board vessels and atwharves.Geophysical surveys conducted within Area474 located several anomalies, though theclosest to the site of the impact was over800m away. Whilst it is possible for objectsand archaeology to move across theseafloor (due to strong currents, fishing orother seabed activities) it is unlikely thatsomething big enough to impact a draghead could be moved by these processes.

Arco Avon Arco Avon