Maritime Archaeology Trust

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The Maritime Archaeology Trust
Formation1991
Legal status Charitable Trust
PurposePromote maritime archaeological study [1]
Headquarters National Oceanography Centre [1] [2]
Location
  • United Kingdom
Region served
Primarily the Solent
Website maritimearchaeologytrust.org
RemarksRegistered charity number 900025 [1]

The Maritime Archaeology Trust (formerly the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology) is a charitable trust that researches and excavates maritime archaeology and heritage in Great Britain. Historically, their core activities were focused around Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the Solent, but now they work in other parts of the country and on international projects.

Contents

History

The discovery of the wreck of HMS Pomone at The Needles in 1969 led the Isle of Wight Council to fund and organise a team to research and excavate the site. [3] As more wrecks were discovered in the following decades, the Isle of Wight Maritime Heritage Project was formed. The project originally focused on the Yarmouth Roads Protected Wreck Site but also began to identify Mesolithic sites on the seabed of the Solent. [4] [5] When central government funds were withdrawn, the project was re-organised as the Isle of Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology in 1990. The Trust managed the excavation of several sites and became the licensee for many of them. [3] In 1991, with support from Hampshire County Council, the Trust's scope expanded and it became the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology. [4] [5] In 2013, it became the Maritime Archaeology Trust. [6]

Projects

The charity has since investigated a great deal of maritime archaeology around the Solent, including shipwrecks, submerged landscapes and inter-tidal foreshore sites. [7] They have also conducted projects as far away as Gibraltar and the Farasan Islands. [8]

Bouldnor Cliff

In 1999 divers from the Trust discovered the Mesolithic settlement site of Bouldnor Cliff. The site is offshore of Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight and about 11 metres below the surface of the Solent. [9] Attention was first drawn to the site when divers observed a lobster discarding worked flint tools from its burrow. [5] [10] Since then, regular fieldwork has revealed that Bouldnor was almost certainly a settlement site approximately 8,000 years ago (6,000 BC), at a time when lower sea levels meant that the Solent was an extensive river valley. Work done so far has revealed that the technology of Mesolithic settlers was probably 2,000 years ahead of what had previously been believed. [10] [11]

Forton Lake

Between 2006 and 2009, the Trust ran a joint community archaeology project at Forton Lake, with the Nautical Archaeology Society, cataloguing the wide range of hulks there. [12] The project was designed to raise local awareness and foster a sense of local pride and ownership amongst nearby residents in Gosport. [13]

Centaur Tanks

In a joint project with Southsea Sub Aqua Club, the Trust has investigated two Centaur tanks from a capsized Landing Craft Tank in the Solent, as part of a case study to see if land based legislation can be used to protect maritime archaeology. [14]

The Mystery Wreck

The Trust investigated a 'mystery wreck' on Horse Tail Sands in the Solent between 2003 and 2011. It was not until 2011 that the Trust was able to confirm the vessel's identity as the Flower of Ugie, a 19th-century barque. As well as fully recording the vessel's remains, the Trust replicated the process of wreck research and identification in a teaching pack for children. [15]

Dissemination and education

The Trust runs an active outreach and schools programme and operates a "Maritime Bus" to make maritime archaeology more accessible to the general public. The bus attends regular events in the south coast, including school, community and other public events. [16] [17] The Trust also runs the Sunken Secrets exhibition at Fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight. [18]

In 2011, the Trust was awarded a Europa Nostra award for Category 4: Education, Training and Awareness Raising, for "raising the profile of maritime heritage and archaeology", recognising the numerous ways in which the Trust teaches audiences of all types about maritime heritage. [19]

Maritime Archaeology Limited

In 2004, the Trust formed Maritime Archaeology Ltd as a commercial trading arm in order to provide archaeological contractual services. [20]

Related Research Articles

Isle of Wight County and island of England

The Isle of Wight is a ceremonial county and the largest and second-most populous island in England. It is in the English Channel, between two and five miles off the coast of Hampshire, separated by the Solent. The island has resorts that have been holiday destinations since Victorian times, and is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland and chines. The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The Solent

The Solent is the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from Great Britain. It is about 20 miles long and varies in width between 2 1⁄2 and 5 mi, although the Hurst Spit which projects 1 1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) into the Solent narrows the sea crossing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay to just over 1 mi (1.6 km).

History of the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is rich in historical and archaeological sites, from prehistoric fossil beds with dinosaur remains, to dwellings and artefacts dating back to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman periods.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a Wildlife Trust with 27,000 members across the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, England.

Langstone Harbour

Langstone Harbour is a 2,085.4-hectare (5,153-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire. It is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. It is part of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site, Special Protection Area and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. Parts of it are in Solent Maritime and Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons Special Areas of Conservation. Three areas are Local Nature Reserves, Farlington Marshes West Hayling and The Kench, Hayling Island. Two areas are nature reserves managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Farlington Marshes and Southmoor Nature Reserve

Nautical Archaeology Society British organisation to further research in nautical archaeology for the public benefit

The Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland and is a company limited by guarantee.

Bouldnor Human settlement in England

Bouldnor is a hamlet near Yarmouth on the west coast of the Isle of Wight in southern England. It is the location of Bouldnor Battery, a gun battery emplacement.

Archaeology Discover Centre

The Archaeology Discover Centre was a museum located in Fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight, England.

Forton Lake Tidal creek in Gosport, Hampshire

Forton Lake is a tidal creek located in the town of Gosport, Hampshire. A small area of the lake is within the grounds of St Vincent College. The locality is the subject of a painting by Martin Snape, which hangs in Gosport Town Hall. The Lake itself is resident to local fish species, including shoal bass and pollack.

Bouldnor Cliff

Bouldnor Cliff is a submerged prehistoric settlement site in the Solent. The site dates from the Mesolithic era and is in approximately 11 metres (12 yd) of water just offshore of the village of Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The preservation of organic materials from this era that do not normally survive on dry land has made Bouldnor important to the understanding of Mesolithic Britain, and the BBC Radio 4's Making History programme described it "probably Europe's most important Mesolithic site" albeit concealed under water.

Bouldnor Battery

Bouldnor Battery is a military battery located in Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight. It saw active service in World War II and was fully decommissioned in 1956. Today, it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Farlington Marshes

Farlington Marshes is a 119.7-hectare (296-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Portsmouth in Hampshire. It is owned by Portsmouth City Council and managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Langstone Harbour, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. It is also part of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area.

The Bouldnor Formation is a geological formation in the Hampshire Basin of southern England. It is the youngest formation of the Solent Group and was deposited during the uppermost Eocene and lower Oligocene.

Solent Group

The Solent Group is a geological group in the Hampshire Basin of southern England. It preserves fossils ranging in age from Priabonian to Rupelian. The group is subdivided into three formations, the Headon Hill Formation, the Bembridge Limestone Formation and the Bouldnor Formation.

<i>Vadne</i> (ferry)

Vadne was a ferry built by Vosper & Company in 1939 for the Port of Portsmouth Steam Launch & Towing Company. In service until 1966, her remains are at Forton Lake, Gosport.

Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary

Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary is a 1,077.3-hectare (2,662-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Lymington in Hampshire. It is a Nature Conservation Review site and two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites. Three areas are Local Nature Reserves, Boldre Foreshore, Sturt Pond and Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes; the latter site is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Part of it is North Solent National Nature Reserve. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. Parts of it are in Solent Maritime and Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons Special Areas of Conservation.

Hythe to Calshot Marshes

Hythe to Calshot Marshes is a 591.8-hectare (1,462-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches along the west bank of Southampton Water between Calshot and Marchwood in Hampshire. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Calshot Marshes is a Local Nature Reserve and Hythe Spartina Marsh is a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Lower Test Valley

Lower Test Valley is a 142-hectare (350-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Totton in Hampshire. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. It is a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Boldre Foreshore

Boldre Foreshore is a 193.3-hectare (478-acre) Local Nature Reserve east of Lymington in Hampshire. It is owned by New Forest District Council and managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest and Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes, a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes

Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes is a 738-hectare (1,820-acre) nature reserve which stretches from Keyhaven along the south coast across the Lymington River in Hampshire. It is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. Some areas are part of two Special Areas of Conservation, Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons and Solent Maritime and Solent. It is also part of Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and of North Solent Marshes Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2. Two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites, and two are Local Nature Reserves, Boldre Foreshore and Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Aims and Objectives". Maritime Archaeology Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "National Oceanography Centre success at SUT Awards". National Oceanography Centre. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  3. 1 2 Medland, p. 52
  4. 1 2 Sparks, Momber & Satchell, p. 3
  5. 1 2 3 British Archaeology, p. 32
  6. ↑ "HWTMA is MAT". Maritime Archaeology Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Archaeological Research". Maritime Archaeology Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Submerged prehistory". Maritime Archaeology Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  9. ↑ British Archaeology, p. 31
  10. 1 2 "Fight on to save Stone Age Atlantis". BBC. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Diving into the Past", Isle of Wight County Press, p. 14, 16 September 2011
  12. ↑ "Forton Lake". Nautical Archaeology Society. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Forton Lake, p. 27
  14. ↑ "Isle of Wight's sunken World War II tanks studied". BBC. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Mystery Shipwreck Solved" (PDF). Solent Forum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "The Maritime Bus". Maritime Archaeology Trust. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Hamble Valley; History and Heritage". The Marketing Collective. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  18. ↑ Burdett & Insole, p. 113
  19. ↑ "Raising Awareness of Maritime Cultural Heritage – Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology". Europa Nostra. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  20. ↑ "About Maritime Archaeology Ltd". Maritime Archaeology Limited. Retrieved 1 November 2011.

Bibliography

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