Rescue archaeology for the Facebook generation: Volunteers fight to preserve disappearing coastal heritage online

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Archaeological sites across England being mapped by Museum of London Archaeology project to preserve more than 70,000 sites

A photo of archaeologists recording a World War Two tank trap on the Northumberland coastCITiZAN archaeologists recording a World War Two tank trap on the Northumberland coast© CITiZAN
A growing army of volunteers is surveying and monitoring England’s vulnerable coastal archaeological sites in an effort to preserve them for posterity.

A photo of tremains of a Medieval Chapel on a cliff edge on National Trust land, Morecambe BayThe remains of a Medieval Chapel on a cliff edge on National Trust land, Morecambe Bay© CITiZAN
Spread across 5,600 miles of coastline and 500 miles of tidal foreshore, the volunteers of the Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeological Network are using tape measures, buckets and mobile phones to create standardised records of exposed archaeological sites before they disappear forever.

A photo of the wreck of the 1907 Sheraton steam trawler at Hunstanton, NorfolkThe wreck of the 1907 Sheraton steam trawler at Hunstanton, Norfolk© CITiZAN
Their data is being fed into a web-based recording system and app to create a crowd-sourced database and interactive map of the sites. This will allow them to be researched long after the sea has claimed them.

A photo of archaeologists recording the 19th century Hooe Lake vessels in PlymouthRecording the 19th century Hooe Lake vessels in Plymouth© CITiZAN
“We can't just sit back and let our coastal heritage wash away, unseen and unloved,” says Gustav Milne, who is leading the project.

A photo of a heavily displaced World War Two pill box on the beach at Bridlington in YorkshireA heavily displaced World War Two pill box on the beach at Bridlington, Yorkshire© CITiZAN
“Even if we can't save them, we must record the features before they disappear. At the very least they deserve a photo from a mobile phone, using our CITiZAN app. It’s old-fashioned 'Rescue Archaeology', but for the Facebook generation.”

A photo of medieval rock cut graves overlooking the greenery of Morecambe Bay in LancashireMedieval rock cut graves overlooking Morecambe Bay, Lancashire© CITiZAN
More than 70,000 archaeological sites, stretching from Lindisfarne to Land’s End and including everything from prehistoric forests to First World War coastal defences, are being destroyed by erosion.

A photo of the large brown large First World War sound mirror at Spurn Point in YorkshireThe large First World War sound mirror at Spurn Point in Yorkshire© CITiZAN
Global warming is hastening this process through rising sea levels and increased flooding, already resulting in the loss of significant sites such as the First World War coastal battery at Morecambe Bay and prehistoric burial mounds at Low Hauxley, Northumberland.

A photo of the remains of a World War Two pill box and anti-tank defences in YorkshireRemains of a World War Two pill box and anti-tank defences, Bridlington, Yorkshire© CITiZAN
“Our coastlines are an enormous hidden repository of the remains of war defences, industry and ancient settlements, providing a fascinating insight into the history of this island nation,” says Ben Greener, the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Historic Environment Advisor.

A photo of a set of steps at the fallen Second World War observation post at East MerseaThe fallen Second World War observation post at East Mersea, previously on the retreating cliff© CITiZAN
“It’s a huge job to record thousands of these sites before they are lost for good and the Heritage Lottery Fund is encouraging as many people as possible to don their boots and join CITiZAN at their nearest site.”

A photo of a house edging close to the edge of the cliff at Birling GapCliff erosion at Birling Gap threatens the safety of these houses© CITiZAN
The three-year project is being hosted by the Museum of London Archaeology and run from three regional centres – MoLA in London, the Council for British Archaeology in York and the Nautical Archaeology Society in Portsmouth.

A photo of the beachside wreck of the 1922 Danish Hans Egede naval auxillary ship in KentThe wreck of the 1922 Danish Hans Egede naval auxillary ship, Kent© CITiZAN
It has received £1.4 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, enhanced by the National Trust and The Crown Estate with support from Historic England.

A photo of the eroded coastal remains of a windlass capstan used for hoisting sailsThe remains of a windlass capstan, used for hoisting sails, in Humberside© CITiZAN

England's disappearing coastal archaeology

A photo of a large square pill box disappearing in to the sea on the Isle of SheppeyA pill box disappearing into the sea on the Isle of Sheppey© CITiZAN
  • According to the National Record for the Historic Environment, more than 70,000 are archaeological sites at risk of being destroyed by erosion along England’s coastline and foreshores

  • Sea levels rose at a rate of around three millimetres per year between 1993 and 2010 as a result of global warming. The rise is accelerating coastal erosion and increasing flooding

  • There are more than 1,500 abandoned boats, barges and ships along England’s coastline and foreshores

  • As a result of floods in recent years a number of archaeological sites have been exposed, including a ship wreck at Newquay harbour, which is now subject to erosion on a daily basis

See the interactive map and found out more about volunteering by visiting the Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeological Network.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.


A photo of an abandoned vessel by the coast, on the site of what is known as Maldon's barge graveyardAn abandoned vessel at the site of what is known as Maldon's barge graveyard© CITiZAN
A photo of archaeologists near a cliff recording the wreck of the Coonatto shipVolunteers record the wreck of the Coonatto at the National Trust's Birling Gap© CITiZAN
A photo of archaeologists assessing cliff erosion at an island by the sea and a cliffArchaeologists assessing cliff erosion at National Trust’s Brownsea Island© CITiZAN
A photo of a square World War Two observation post on a clifftop in Dorset, with Flower's Barrow Iron Age hill fort in the distanceA view of the World War Two observation post in Dorset, with Flower's Barrow Iron Age hill fort in the distance© CITiZAN
Three places to discover coastal heritage in:

Coastal Communities Museum, North Berwick
This volunteer-run museum aims to bring to life the history of the towns and villages of the coastal ward. There is a varied programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year in a building shared with a library.

GeoMôn - Anglesey Geopark
Take a tour along the Anglesey coastine, nationally recognised as an area of outstanding beauty. The prestigous coastal path allows access to 90% of the area's geological highlights.

Maritime Archaeology Trust, Southampton
Hear about the unfortunate ships that have been claimed by the treacherous seas around the Empress Dock andl earn about how maritime archaeologists do their job in current exhibition The Maritime Trust's Sunken Secrets: Shipwrecks and Submerged Settlements. Until October 31 2015.


Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art533762-rescue-archaeology-for-facebook-generation-volunteers-fight-preserve-disappearing-coastal-heritage-online


You might also like

Miklavž

Slovenski šolski muzej v letu 2019

Summer at the Museum

III. Kongres slovenskih muzealcev