The NMP work for the North East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (RCZAS) covered the inter-tidal zone and a minimum 1km-wide strip of coastline between Whitby in North Yorkshire and the Scottish border just north of Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The NMP mapping was completed in summer 2008 and has been used to underpin the phase two field survey.
Inter-tidal, coastal and estuarine archaeology
The primary aim of this project was to enhance the record of the coastal archaeology of north-eastern England, and identify sites at short and medium-term risk in the coastal hinterland. Although the north-east coast is generally more stable than that further south in East Yorkshire, erosion is still a threat in some areas.
The NMP element of the project was undertaken by contractors and staff from Archaeological Research Services Ltd. Over 1000 new records were created, increasing the number of known sites for the project area by 61%. Of these the vast majority, nearly 75%, were military or wartime related with large numbers consisting of sites that were partially hidden such as camouflaged gun batteries.
Non-military sites identified included wrecks, fishtraps, a variety of industrial remains and a number of medieval and a few late prehistoric sites.
The second element of the project related to the identification of sites at risk. Although the north-east coast is generally more stable than that further south in East Yorkshire, erosion is still a threat in some areas. Here at Kettleness, north of Whitby, a few of the remains of the alum works are precariously close to the cliff edge.
The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the English Heritage Archive.
For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us by email via the link above.
