Rapid Coastal zone Survey and Beyond: research and management of the Essex coast, UK

Abstract

Abstract Recent survey around the Essex coast has built on the work of the pioneering Hullbridge Survey of the 1980s, extending its coverage both geographically and chronologically. New fieldwork has examined areas not previously surveyed, and has concentrated on Roman, medieval and post-medieval sites and features, rather than the prehistoric landsurface and associated deposits which formed the focus of the Hullbridge work. At the same time, monitoring work was undertaken to assess patterns of change, erosion and new exposures. A series of sites, including stratigraphic sequences, peat deposits, 'submerged forests' and timber structures recorded in the 1980s in different coastal and estuarine locations, were revisited to assess current conditions. Following the initial revisits, selected sites were regularly revisited over a three year period, to record the nature and rate of change. This recent fieldwork forms part of a systematic series of surveys which have extended the work of the Hullbridge survey both inland of the seawalls and down to the edge of the sub-tidal zone. This has enabled an integrated approach to research and management of the coastal historic environment to be developed.