Since the last issue, dedicated industrystaff have continued to report a wide rangeof unusual and interesting finds. In facta further 18 reports have been receiveddetailing 38 new finds and new reports arebeing received every week. A selection of these are shown on page 6.The finds awards for the 2008–2009reporting year were made in November.Given the vast range of finds and the hugelevel of support for the scheme that hasbeen shown throughout the past five yearsof Protocol reporting, choosing the winnerswas a challenge! Mark Russell from BMAPAand Ian Oxley from English Heritagesupported the nominations and theresults are announced on page 2.Also in this issue, we are joined byEd Salter, English Heritage's MaritimeArchaeologist for Aggregates, who tellsus more about how English Heritageworks with the industry to protect oursubmerged history.

Ud pDredge

Protocol Update

frm the pasto

Spring 2010

Issue 6

Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

Welcome to Issue Six of Dredged Up,the popular newsletter of the marineaggregates reporting Protocol.

Staff at CEMEX's Dover Wharf examine finds during an Awareness visitStaff at CEMEX's Southampton Wharf examine finds reported through the Protocol

Team News

In 2009 The Crown Estate added itssupport to the Protocol ImplementationService by joining BMAPA as a fundingpartner. The Crown Estate, which ownsthe seabed out to the 12 mile limit andgrants licences for dredging, was deeplyimpressed with how effective theProtocol has been in protecting ourmarine heritage.Accordingly the Protocol, formerly knownas the BMAPA/EH Protocol, will now beknown as the Marine Aggregates Protocol,supported by BMAPA, English Heritageand The Crown Estate.

As always, if you have any questions aboutfinds, finds reporting or the Protocol,please don't hesitate to get in touch withWessex Archaeology

+44 (0)1722 326 867protocol@wessexarch.co.uk

The results of the 2008–2009 finds awardsare now in. The winners were nominatedby the Wessex Archaeology staff who haveworked closely with aggregate wharves andvessels over the past five years, and wereheartily approved by Ian Oxley of EnglishHeritage and Mark Russell of BMAPA.Whilst all wharves and vessels haveworked tremendously hard to protect oursubmerged heritage over the past year, weare pleased to announce that the 2008–2009finds awards go to:- CEMEX- The

Arco Humber

and the

Arco Avon

(joint award)- Tarmac Greenwich for thediscovery of a

Radom pistol

CEMEX Portslade claimed the prize for thefor reporting thediscovery of a late 19th century relish potin March 2009. The pot was found in severalpieces by Michael Pettitt and Andy Roberts.Not only had wharf staff found severalpieces of the pot, they had devoted theirown time to searching the heaps for furtherpieces of the vessel. This dedicationallowed archaeologists to identify thatthe picture printed onto the find depictedthe Napoleonic battle of La Albuera.Best Attitude by a Wharf Best Attitude by a VesselBest Find Best Attitude by a Wharf Portslade

2008 – 2009 Finds Awards

Vis or Radom pistol found by staff at Tarmac's Greenwich Wharf

Staff on both the

Arco Avon

and the

Arco Humber

deservetheaward for spotting very smallfinds during the last reportingyear. The

Avon

reported thediscovery of a stone bead, andstaff on the

Humber

reportedan unusual small stone that iscurrently being studied by theBelfast Geologists' Society. Recognisingthese finds amongst aggregate on a vesselmust have been very difficult and theirreporting shows real dedication to theProtocol.Finally, the award for goes toTarmac Greenwich (formerly UMD) fortheir discovery of a Vis or Radom pistol.The discovery of this WW2 pistol, thoughtby some to be the finest handgun of its time, is quite unusual. This type of gun was manufactured in Poland from theearly 1930s, first for Polish troops and thenfor German forces after the invasion of Poland in 1939 during WW2. It is a mysteryas to how it ended up submerged off theeast coast of Britain, as German forces onlyregularly issued this weapon to their policeand paratroopers. One theory is that aPolish serviceman owned it and continuedto use it when serving with the British Armyor the Royal Air Force after the Germaninvasion.Best Attitude by a VesselBest Find

01 cm05 cm

19th century relish pot found at CEMEX's Portslade Wharf Below: Stone bead reported by the crew of the Arco Avon and the unusual stone reported by the crew of the Arco Humber

Peat deposits can also contain evidencethat teaches us about ancient people – suchas flint flakes and tools, worked bone orcharcoal that may indicate the location of a fire many thousands of years ago. So bystudying peat we can find out what theclimate was like, when the plants in thepeat grew, whether people were presentand what their world was like.If you find peat amongst a dredged loadreport it in the usual fashion. Fill in alldetails on the reporting form includingthe licence area and the date that it wasdredged. If it is found on board a vesselplease provide your Nominated Contactwith the trackplot as well – your WessexArchaeology team will be requesting it! If safe to do so, please keep a sample of thepeat in a clear plastic sack (no more thanhalf a bag). Label it with a description, thedate it was dredged and the name of thefinder or Site Champion. When it isreported we will give you a unique numberto add to the labels on the bag. You will notneed to store this sample for long – if wethink we might be able to study it we willarrange to collect it.Don't forget that if you need any adviceon how to report finds or which findsshould be reported, get in touch withyour Nominated Contact or withWessex Archaeology via

What to do if you find peatprotocol@wessexarch.co.uk

Peat amongst a dredged load is a problemfor the aggregate industry - it is a costlycontaminant that will be discarded.However, archaeologically, peat isincredibly valuable.Peat forms when plant remains rot inanaerobic conditions – those where oxygenis absent. This prevents the organicmaterial from completely decomposingso peat usually contains the recognisableremains of many different plant and treespecies. Archaeologists are especiallyinterested in peat that has come fromoffshore, where the location of peatdeposits are often known by staff in theaggregate industry long before we becomeaware of them.The plant remains within peat found atsea date to a time when the areas dredgedtoday would have been dry land. Despiteintensive studies, the seabed is still a verymysterious place and archaeologists arecurrently trying to piece together thesequences of events that led to theformation of our seabed geology. Peat canhelp us to do this as plant remains withinpeat may be suitable for carbon 14 dating.We may also be able to identify the plantspecies within peat and these can revealwhat the climate and conditions were likein the past.

The Importance of Peat

Sample of peat clearly showing the plant remains within it An archaeologist processes peat samples before studying the plant remains within them