dredged up from the past - issue 13 - archaeology finds reporting service newsletter

8/14/2019 Dredged Up from the Past - Issue 13 - Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

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Protocol Update

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Dredged Up is back for issue 13.The 20122013 reporting year has justfinished and it has been another incrediblysuccessful year for the marine aggregatesProtocol, with 52 new reports raised,

detailing over 160 separate finds.

The marine aggregates Protocol continuesto be held up as an example of effectivearchaeological mitigation-in-action byarchaeologists, heritage professionals,developers, curators and marine stewards

alike. It has sparked the creation of twoother industry related reporting protocolsand undoubtedly more will follow.In this issue The Crown Estate join usto talk about how they are supporting theProtocol through the marine stewardshipfund, we review finds from the past sixmonths and talk about how you can getmore involved with archaeology andheritage this winter.

Awareness

Since the last issue of Dredged Up (Spring 2013) Wessex Archaeology has conductedfour awareness visits and we are looking to book more before the end of the year.If you would like a visit please contact us using the details below.

[email protected] 01722 326 867or call

DredgedUpfrom the past

Autumn 2013

Issue 13

Archaeology Finds Reporting Service Newsletter

CEMEX Southampton

To contact the Protocol team at Wessex Archaeology:

Brett Cliffe Wharf

Many wharves are busy - fantastic newsafter several economically difficultyears. Taking time out for archaeologicalawareness training under thesecircumstances is understandablydifficult. Wessex Archaeology is keen

to support wharves and vessels howeverwe are able if it is not feasible for usto visit, we can send you an informationpack containing material to help youidentify, protect and reportarchaeological finds amongst dredgedloads. We are also happy to give adviceor deliver presentations over the phone,via email or on Skype to fit in with youroperational circumstances.


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Finds from 2012-2013

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Lafarge Tarmac: paving slab

A varied array of finds is reported throughthe Protocol - from maritime material toaircraft, and domestic debris to prehistoricmammoth remains. Some of the reportedfinds are 50 years old, some more than50,000 years old, and each new discoveryis met with anticipation and excitement.Here is a selection of finds reported duringthe past six months.

This cast iron find looks like a finial eitherfor railings, or possibly more likely, for a bedpost. The gently curving pattern and roundedtop suggest the softer setting of a bedroom,rather than railings which are pointed to

deter trespassers. This find, discovered atLafarge Tarmacs Burnley wharf, is thoughtto be part of a spread of post-war domesticrubble which lies in the south coast region(see page 4). Iron railings were removedfrom public places, such as parks, duringthe Second World War as part of a drive toincrease the availability of scrap metal formilitary vehicles and munitions. This was ahuge public relations exercise and everyonewas encouraged to donate scrap to help thewar effort. Reports suggest however that

factories were ill equipped to process thedonated metal resulting in some of itallegedly being dumped at sea.

This broken paving slab, found at LafargeTarmacs Bedhampton wharf, is thought todate to the early twentieth-century. Oneside is striated with tool marks from whenthe stone, which is Purbeck limestone,was sawn into sections for use. The otherside, the smooth side, would have formeda street or path. A patina on this surfaceshows where the slab has borne the weightof potentially thousands of footsteps apoignant reminder of people who may no

longer be with us going about their lives inthe recent past. It was dredged from area127 to the west of the Isle of Wight whichhas recently yielded a number of findsmore likely to have originated in aterrestrial context.

Cutlery is commonly reported through theProtocol. Most cutlery finds are thought tobe lost from a vessel, though there is thepotential for them to be the first indicator

of an uncharted wreck. Alan Harrison whoworks for the Stainless Steel Advisory Serviceon behalf of the British Stainless SteelAssociation has been a huge help inidentifying some of the cutlery reportedthis year. His knowledge of different steelshas allowed identification of two knivesfound off of the south coast. Tarmac_0445bears the mark INOX which Alan tells us isnot used in the UK, revealing that this knifewas made somewhere in Continental Europe.Tarmac_0466 is of a lower cost construction

being made of, Alan suspects, magneticferritic grade steel. Both knives weredredged from area 127 on the south coastand reported by Burnley wharf.

5 cm

5 cm

Lafarge Tarmac: cast iron finial

Tarmac_0445

Tarmac_0466


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Hanson: metal weights (sinker left, sounding lead right)

5 cm5 cm

Lafarge Tarmac et weights or hag stones: n

1 cm

1 cm

Two metal weights were found by the, one from area 240 on the east

coast and the other from area 473 in theEast English Channel. The weight from theeast coast is thought to be a sinker as inhook, line and sinker and is a lead weightused to sink a fishing line to the bottom ofthe sea or riverbed. The weight from area473 is a sounding lead used to gauge thedepth of water below a ship. These wereused in various forms for around 2,000 years

until the invention of more moderntechnologies for depth sounding.

Conversely, CEMEXs reportedthe discovery of a fishing float from area 319on the east coast. Found with a smallassemblage of other finds (including animalbone and fossilised teeth) this cork floatwould have been attached to the top offishing nets to keep them hanging uprightin the water column. This example has avertical slit through the side of the find,

showing where the broken float has becomedetached from the net to end up adriftin the sea.

Arco Arun

Sand Fulmar

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The 2012-2013 reporting year has seen thediscovery of four net or line weights and onefishing float.

Jamie Wallis, at Greenwich wharf,discovered these two perforated stones.Spotting these amongst dredged aggregate

shows a real dedication to our heritage andvery keen eyes. These are made of flint, asedimentary rock which forms in gaps withinthe matrix of another rock, such as chalk.The holes seen here were created naturallywhen the stones formed millions of yearsago, but at some stage in the past someonehas utilised this natural feature to turn theminto line or net weights. Though neitherstone is especially heavy on its own, eachweighs enough to sink a fishing line or toweight the edge of a net alongside other

stones. It is not possible to provide a datefor the use of these specific stones, as stoneshave been used as fishing weights from thePalaeolithic to the modern day. They couldhave been employed as net weights at anypoint during the last 50,000 years.

In the past, stones with a natural hole havesometimes been referred to as hag stonesas they were thought to protect the bearerfrom the evil influence of witches. WessexArchaeology hopes that the stones will beeffective in keeping staff at Greenwich safeand free from the influence of evil whilstthe stones are displayed at the wharf.

Hanson: sounding lead

Hag stones, sinkers and floats

CEMEX: fishing float

5 cm


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A sizeable proportion of the finds reportedthrough the Protocol have originated in anarea near the Nab Tower lighthouse in thesouth coast dredging region. Many of thefinds are not typically found at sea and aremore common in terrestrial domesticcontexts. Items such as knives and forks,finials, badges and building rubble haveall been dredged and reported.

Back in 2008, when it became clear that the

seabed around dredging area 122/3 (which isa marine licence renewal application area)contained a concentration of archaeologicalmaterial, Wessex Archaeology looked deeperinto the background of the region.

The area appears to contain a spread ofdomestic debris rubble thought to haveresulted from the blitz and later dumpedat sea during the post-war recovery ofthe 1950s. Cities like Portsmouth and

Southampton on the south coast were heavilybombed during the blitz and there wouldhave been huge amounts of rubble to clearbefore recovery and rebuilding could begin.Being so close to the sea, and with a 1950sapproach to waste management, it issuspected that cargoes of rubble were takenoffshore and dumped in what is now thesouth coast Isle of Wight dredging region.The material is likely to have come from acity local to the site and the discovery ofa badge in 2008 issued by the Portsmouth

Education Committee hasled us to think it hascome from Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth records office were

contacted but there was no record of thespread of material. This may be becausethe contract to remove waste went to acommercial firm whose records haveperished along with the company whichprovided the service, or because wastemanagement was not thought relevant toarchives and heritage.

Area 122/3 is not currently dredged butdomestic material has been recovered fromnearby licences 395 and 372/1.This spread

of finds provides an interesting insight to ournear past and some of the material gives afascinating glimpse into wartime Portsmouth.However, there is the risk that the domesticmaterial is masking a site of furtherarchaeological significance such as ashipwreck or aircraft crash site(see page 6) and so all findsare being considered fullyduring investigation.

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1950s debris off of the Isle of Wight

Hanson: padlock

Nab Tower lighthouse

copyr

ight

Tr

init

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ouse


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Natural History Museum

From artillery to aircraft, mammoths tomaritime finds there is a wealth ofinformation to be found at some of themuseums who help us to identify findsreported through the Protocol. Here is around-up of some of the places you can visitto learn more about our heritage and thebackground to the finds brought up withdredged loads.

RAF Museum

The RAF Museum has two locations holdinga world-class aviation collection. Staff fromthe Museum identify the aircraft materialreported through the Protocol. Learn moreby visiting the RAF Museum at Cosford inShropshire or Hendon, London. Admissionis free at both locations.

Royal Armouries Museum

Cannonballs are a popular Protocol find.The national collection of artillery the bigguns is housed at Fort Nelson, Hampshire.You can explore over 350 guns, the VictorianFort and the new visitor centre and galleriesfor free. The Royal Armouries also have amuseum in Leeds.

www.rafmuseum.org.uk

www.royalarmouries.org

Natural History Museum

Experts at the Natural History Museumidentify the Palaeolithic mammal remainsreported through the Protocol these includethe teeth and tusks of mammoths foundamongst dredged loads. Visit the Museumin London for free to learn more.

Natuurhistorisch Museum, Rotterdam

A percentage of aggregate dredged fromBritish waters is delivered to the continent.The Natural History Museum in Rotterdamis involved with protecting finds amongstthese cargoes and works closely with localcollectors and the wharves to retrieve andidentify prehistoric material.

National Maritime Museum

The worlds largest maritime museumis based in Greenwich, London. Visit theNational Maritime Museum for free to learnmore about the seafaring past which hascontributed a rich layer of archaeology toour seabed.

www.nhm.ac.uk

www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl

www.rmg.co.uk

Learn more

Get InvolvedThe Council for British Archaeology advertises opportunities to volunteer,participate in a dig, attend an event or join a group on their website. If you wouldlike to learn more or get involved visit

http://new.archaeologyuk.org/participate/


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In summer 2013 theProtocol receivedseveral reports ofaircraft materialdredged from licencearea 395/1 whichlies to the east ofthe Isle of Wight.

This area is welldredged and has been

under licence since the late-1990s. Intensivegeophysical surveys were conducted, as wellas studies of archaeological records, priorto the granting of the licence to dredge andno aircraft were identified within the area.Subsequent surveys of the active licencecommissioned by Lafarge Tarmac, the mostrecent conducted in 2011, have also notshown any anthropogenic receptors whichcould be linked to an aircraft crash site.

The discovery of the finds at this time issomewhat surprising given how long thelicence has been in use, though the discoveryof military aircraft remains on the southcoast is very common.

Thousands of aircraft were flown to attack ordefend Britain during WWII and many ofthem were downed through enemyaction. Wartime aircraft lost atsea are poorly recorded and whererecords exist, locations were often

estimated or vague. It is not uncommonto find a record similar to Aircraft lost5 miles from Southampton, which leavesa very broad area. Even the figure, 5 miles,was possibly estimated by someone on theland watching the plane ditch or recordedby someone aboard the attackingplane. Many Luftwaffe recordswere burnt when the Germansrealised the war was lost andwith them was lost the littleinformation they containedabout aircraft crash sites.

Combined with the lack of historicalinformation, aircraft dont always showclearly on geophysical surveys. Manywrecked planes are highly fragmented dueto their light construction, the cataclysmicdamage that caused them to ditch and theirimpact with the surface of the sea andpotentially the seabed as well. Material canbecome deeply buried only coming to lightafter dredging has been active for sometime. Aircraft remains do not always show

up well on geophysical surveys because ofthe great likelihood that they were dispersedor have become buried beneath seabedsediments (this is thought to have occurredin area 395/1). In short, identifying aircraftat sea is not a straightforward process and itis not uncommon for material found amongstdredged loads to be the first indicator wehave of the position of a downed plane.

This presents a practical problem as WWII

aircraft flew heavily armed and thereforeaircraft wreck sites are likely to containordnance. Also they may of course containhuman remains and are protected underUK law (Protection of Military RemainsAct 1986).

Lafarge Tarmac: engine part

Aircraft remains from the south coast

Area 395/1

Lafarge Tarmac: aircraft remains


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Hanson: Jumo engine

The material from area 395/1 is intriguing.Spread (currently) over seven separatereports from two separate companies we

have the remains of a Jumo engine and partof a Junkers 87 Stuka dive bomber. Stukasflew with Jumo engines though the mostrecent engine piece retrieved (found by the

) is from a version of the Jumo notfitted to the model of Stukas which wereflown over the UK. This is fascinating andslightly daunting as it means there arepotentially the remains of two separateaircraft scattered within the licence, so weneed to stay vigilant to see if together wecan further narrow down the position of

these losses.

Arco Dee

Study of geophysical survey datarevealed that no anthropogenic signatureswere identified in the most recent surveys.A review of aircraft loss records howeverreveals that the closest aircraft loss tothe licence (some 5km away) was indeeda Ju87 lost on 8th August 1940 during theBattle of Britain with the loss of the lives ofboth crew. The Historic Environment Recordsfor the Isle of Wight names the crew, a pilotand a gunner, as Unteroffizier Walz and

Gefreiter Shutz.

The material recovered from 395/1 currentlysuggests a scattered site of debris from aplane. Aircraft crash sites at sea can behighly dispersed with aircraft sheddingwreckage prior to ditching and fragmentingover a wide area. Material may also bemoved by natural processes on the seabed.The bulk of the plane may lie outside of thearea and the material discovered may bepart of the debris field associated with it.Alternatively, there may be significantremains within the licence and WessexArchaeology will continue to work with allcompanies dredging the licence to protectour heritage.

Hanson: Jumo engine remains

Junk ers 87 Stuk a dive bombe r

Lafarge Tarmac: aircraft remains


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Since 1999 our marine stewardshipprogramme has provided funds forcommunity initiatives and scientificresearch that help to promote the long-termsustainable management of our marineportfolio. Within the programme, our marine

stewardship fund supports communityinitiatives that help to improve and enhanceour marine and coastal assets which includealmost all the seabed around the UK andaround half of the foreshore.

A great example of the sorts of project thefund supports is the Marine AggregateArchaeological Reporting Protocol, whichprovides a single and consistent system forthe UK marine aggregate industry to report

finds of historical significance. The CrownEstate manages nearly all marine and gravelresources lying offshore the UK and a numberof our licensees are actively involved in theProtocol through their staff working atwharves and on board dredgers who mayencounter archaeological finds during theirday to day work.

We have provided funds of 60,000 tosupport the Protocol since 2009, and have

pledged a further 60,000 during the nextthree years so that, in areas where dredgingis actively undertaken, discoveries can beproperly assessed by Wessex Archaeologyand other heritage experts. Informationproduced through the Protocol will not onlyhelp us to support our licensees in theiractivities, but also enables us to understandmore about the seabed we manage and theheritage it contains.

Developing an understanding of good estatemanagement is fundamental to the way wemanage our marine portfolio. Our interestsrange from aggregates, aquaculture, cables

and pipelines, to ports, harbours, mooringsand marinas. Through our management,investments and developments we look todeliver real benefits to local communitiesand the UK generally. Our marinestewardship programme is a part of this.Since the programme began in 1999 we haveinvested some 10 million in supportingaround 500 projects across the UK.

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The Crown Estate renews 60K funding pledge to support seabed heritage

wessexarchaeology

Fiona Wynne, Stewardship Manager at The

Crown Estate is responsible for managing

The Crown Estates marine stewardship

fund which supports community initiatives

aimed at improving and enhancing The

Crown Estates marine and coastal assets.

[email protected] 01722 326 867or call

To contact the Protocol team at Wessex Archaeology:

dredged up from the past - issue 13 - archaeology finds reporting service newsletter

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