Coastal Heritage Project

Although the Solent has a rich coastal heritage we know very little about it and suspect there is much to be discovered. The Coastal Heritage Project was set up both to fully record the archaeology of the Hampshire coastline and to share this with as many people as possible.

The Study Area measures just under 400km², and encompassed the whole New Forest Coast - defined in the west by the county boundary between Hampshire and Dorset, and in the east by the boundary with Southampton City. It also included a substantial marine zone, stretching six nautical miles from the low water mark of the New Forest coastline. Phase I (desk based investigation) and Phase II (fieldwork) projects identified over 2900 archaeological sites within the Study Area ranging from pieces of pottery to abandoned villages and castles. A total of 437 new sites were discovered during the field assessment by archaeologists and vounteers. Two new wreck sites were discovered in the Solent adding to our knowledge of maritime activity along the New Forest coast. 

Information from the project help inform decisions about the future management of the coastal margin, especially as we respond to rising sea levels and specific threats to archaeological sites. This local project forms part of the larger national English Heritage Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment programme.

Reports and documents

During 2010 the New Forest National Park Authority commissioned Wessex Archaeology to undertake, with local volunteers, an archaeology survey of approximately 381.66 km² of New Forest coastline.

These Coastal surveys were undertaken on foot, by boat and underwater by volunteer dive teams. The fieldwork also included a geophysical survey and two week excavation at a salt working site on the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve.

To read more please click the links below:

New Forest Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (345 KB)

Introduction (113 KB)

Methodology (166 KB)

Survey results: coastal stretch A, B, C, D, E and Marine Study area: results (263 KB)

Coastal and marine fieldwork analysis (111 KB)

References (102 KB)

Figures 1 - 17 (8.6 MB)

Figures 18 - 34 (2.6 MB)

Plates (2.2 MB)

Appendix 1 (430 KB)

Appendix 2 (256 KB)

Appendix 3 (967 KB)

Phase III: Final report

The final report of the New Forest Coastal Heritage Project combines the results from the initial desk based assessment (research phase I) and fieldwork phase (II) to provide an enhanced overview of coastal change within the New Forest coastal zone.

A key additional element of the phase III report identifies the various threats posed to the coastal and marine archaeological resource, and provides an assessment of each site’s vulnerability. The report goes on to suggest strategies for future site management with a focus on identifying those sites most at risk or those that may warrant further investigation.

Main report (810 KB)

Figures

Figures 1-10

Figures 11- 15

Appendices

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F