Palaeoenvironmental assessment of peat samples from the Dogger Bank
– new report available The Crown Estate
This report may be downloaded from The Crown Estate website at:
http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/media/562878/ei-archaeological-material-from-the-dogger-bank.pdf
Summary
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by The Crown Estate to undertake a palaeoenvironmental assessment of peat samples reported through the Offshore Renewables Protocol for Archaeological Discoveries (ORPAD) project, derived from benthic ecological surveys undertaken for the proposed Round 3 offshore wind farm Dogger Bank, North Sea during July, August and October 2012.
A total of 174 samples of peat were initially assessed and 31 samples chosen for further assessment of waterlogged remains. The well preserved waterlogged plant remains identified within the 31 samples were representative of a range of environments:
- Sphagnum/moss bog
- Wooded fen
- Phragmites reed marshland/fen
- Sedge marshland/bog
- Wet marshland dominated by bogbean
- Coastal habitats
- Aquatic environments
Molluscs and insects were also recorded within the samples in small numbers. Whilst undated the remains are likely to date to around 12,000 to 8,000 years ago. Further analytical work is recommended including radiocarbon dating, and analysis of pollen remains.
The new report citation is:
Russell, J.W., and Stevens, C.J. 2014.
‘Palaeoenvironmental assessment of peat samples’. The Crown Estate, 28 pages. ISBN: 978-1-906410-53-7.
The report may also be downloaded from the list on The Crown Estate website at:
http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/research/seabed-and-coastal-research/reports/
For further information contact: Prof Mike Cowling, Chief Scientist, The Crown Estate, 16 New Burlington Place, London, W1S 2HX, mike.cowling@thecrownestate.co.uk Tel. 020 7851 5032.