The Implementation Service funded byBMAPA and provided by Wessex Archaeologyhas had a successful first year, runningfrom October 2005 to September 2006,with over 80 separate artefacts reportedthrough the scheme. A number of 'pre-Protocol' finds were also brought tothe attention of Wessex Archaeology staff during visits to wharves as part of theAggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF)funded Awareness Programme. In addition,since the beginning of the new reportingyear in October, six finds have beenreported to the Implementation Service.

Ud pDredge

As many of you will know Victoria Cooperleft the Implementation Service beforeChristmas on maternity leave. You willbe happy to hear that she gave birthto Lucy Mae on the 6th of January.Euan McNeill continues as managerof the scheme and Margaret Christiewho has been working for WessexArchaeology for two years has takenover from Victoria. Stephanie Arnotthas been working on the project sinceAugust and will continue to assist.

Protocol update

fr m the pasto

The scheme has been well received bythe industry and the regulator. About the scheme,Mark Russell of BMAPA said that

“When BMAPA started talking to English Heritage in2000 to see what practical and useful steps could betaken to ensure that the marine historic environmentwas fully accounted for by the marine aggregatesector, I don't think any of us could imagine thesignificant progress that would be made. Seven yearsdown the line, and we have worked in partnership to produce a world class Guidance Note followed up by a world class Reporting Protocol for finds encountered during the production process.The marine aggregate sector has effectively defined the standards for all other marine developmentactivities to aspire to, and this is something thateveryone involved in the industry can be incredibly proud of. Already, high standards have been set inthe first year of the reporting protocol's operation,reflecting the professionalism and enthusiasm of sea and wharf staff. Our challenge will be to maintainand improve our performance over the coming years.””“

On the importance of the scheme Ian Oxley of EnglishHeritage commented

The Implementation Service Team

Spring 2007

Issue 1

A report containing full details of all thediscoveries made during the year 2005-2006has recently been published and distributedto all the BMAPA company wharves and vessels.

Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

Margaret, Euan and Stephanie

During 2006 Wessex Archaeology carried outa programme of education and awarenessto accompany the introduction of theProtocol. Visits were made to 30 wharves,3 vessels and 4 survey companies and aDVD-based remote training package wassent out to all the wharves and vesselsthat Wessex Archaeology was unable tovisit. Three regional workshops in Salisbury,York and London were also organised.

Raising awareness

English Heritage haspraised the successof the Protocol:

“The BMAPA-EH protocol funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund has been an extremely significant joint initiative to raise theawareness of a wider audience and,more importantly, to enable the marineaggregates industry to develop working practices that take account of the historicenvironment. It has also demonstrated that collaboration between industry and archaeologists is possible and beneficial,contributing to a sustainable managementof the historic environment for presentand future generations.”

Virginia Dellino-MusgraveMaritime Archaeologist,English Heritage Maritime Team

Wooden pulley sheaveMammoth tooth Aircraft wreckagePrehistoric animal bones(probably from a large herbivore)Lamp found with aircraft wreckage

A collection of wood, eroded peat,mineralised bone, antler and a singlepiece of struck flint was reported fromthe

Steenkorrel wharf

in Amsterdam inFebruary 2006. The material came froma load dredged by the CEMEX UK marinevessel

Sand Falcon

from licence area360 off Great Yarmouth.

Identifying a submerged prehistoric landscape

The presence of reworked fragments of peat suggests that the material has beeneroded from a peat layer. Assuming thatthe material is broadly contemporaryit may be derived from a submergedterrestrial land surface, probably of earlyMesolithic date (approximately 8,500 BC).The study of submerged prehistoriclandscapes and associated archaeologicaldeposits is still a young science. Thediscoveries of such land surfaces areincredibly important for our understandingof the nature and distribution of prehistoricsettlements. The information gatheredfrom reported finds provides a valuablesource of information about prehistoricpeoples. It has the potential to expandour knowledge of those societies, perhapseven changing current archaeologicalperspectives.A sample of the wood is currentlyundergoing scientific dating and thefind is being incorporated in the ALSFfunded Seabed Prehistory project.