Neolithic archaeology in the intertidal zone

This volume is based upon a conference which took place in 1999, reflecting the developing interest in intertidal archaeology and concentrating on the Neolithic period, as well as elements of associated Mesolithic and Bronze Age archaeology.

Since then, the papers have been revised to include new discoveries and reflect the increasing interest and importance attached to the intertidal zone.

All papers have supporting environmental data and radiocarbon dates.

The volume has a wide geographical spread, starting in the Solway Firth (Michael Cressey) with description and interpretation of several new sites and environmental data including relative sea level change.

This is followed by a paper drawing together information from Liverpool Bay (Silvia Gonzalez and R Cowell), including archival research, antiquarian data and recent fieldwork, including the remarkable Formby Point footprints.

Continuing southwards, a highly detailed paper on the Severn Estuary (Martin Bell) summarises the relationship between the intertidal and dryland zone, on both sides of the estuary in both the Neolithic and Mesolithic.Rounding the coast, the next paper examines the landscape at Wootton Quarry on the Isle of Wight (Rebecca Loader), and outlines the results of an intertidal zone survey, including well preserved intertidal deposits here, including a buried forest, trackways and flint scatters.

This is followed by a paper on the intertidal deposits within Langstone Harbour (Michael Allen and Julie Gardiner), which included subtidal archaeological work in combination with intertidal survey and analysis.

Once again, the theme of buried forests is examined and the importance of this previously poorly studied phenomenon is demonstrated.

Moving around to the river Thames, two papers (Wilkinson & Sidell and Haughey) provide examinations of the development of the river and the Neolithic development along the estuary, closely tied to environmental change and also the difficulties of working in an estuarine and urban zone simultaneously.The work of archaeologists working in fragile and rapidly eroding environments is evaluated: the papers demonstrate the high quality research being undertaken around the British coast to salvage archaeology by record and undertake detailed research to place it in its proper context.