Discover the submerged prehistory of Europe – aims, methods and outcomes

Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research

Discover the submerged prehistory of Europe – aims, methods and outcomes

of the European SPLASHCOS-network

www.splashcos.org

Hauke Jöns, Wilhelmshaven:


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Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research Bai

ley

2011

The European Continental Shelf

40% of the European surface is submerged!


Graphik: F. Bau

Harpune von der Lemanbank (Trawler „Colinda“)

(Ward et al 2006)

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8250 cal BC

Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research Bai

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2011

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2011

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The European Continental Shelf

rule of thumb:‘the deeper the site below sea level, theolder the site’

rule of thumb:‘the higher the level,

the older the site’


Tybring VigDenmark

(5400–3900 cal. BC)


PavlopetriGreece

(3000-1200 cal. BC)


Atlit-YamIsrael

(7200-6000 cal. BC)


Late neolithic offering pit with scull of an ourochs found at the Hamburger Hallig (2300 cal BC)

Megalithic Grave from Sylt-island (3200 cal BC)

North Frisian Wadden SeaGermany

Treetrunk (1740 cal BC)

Küh

n 20

08


3D-Seismik

Reconstruction of the Palaeolandscape (Doggerbank)

Data from offshore-industries!


These examples indicate: oBig parts of the European Prehistory is submerged offshore (common European perspective)oThe sites may be extraordinary well preserved (organic material) and may offer completely new information about the prehistoric life oIn many cases the sites may be used as well dated sea level-index points and are also of high interest for Geologist, Oceanologists and Climate expertsoThey only can be investigated in close cooperation with these disciplines (Geophysics, Geology, Sedimentology, Archaeobiology, etc.). oA lot of data is already available and can be used! Transnational & interdisciplinary approach is needed

as well as cooperation with the marine industry!


The project was funded for four years (2009-2013) as COST-ActionoCommunication, interdisciplinary exchange of experience and knowledge oto promote research on the investigation, interpretation and management of the drowned landscapes of the continental shelfoto create a structure for the development of new interdisciplinary and international research collaborationoto provide guidance to archaeologists, environmental and marine scientists, heritage professionals, government agencies, commercial organisations, policy makers and a wider public.

Chair: Geoff Bailey (York) Dimitris Sakellariou (Athens)


26 Countries:


Splashcos – ActionsMost of the money was spent for Conferences and Meetings:

1 Brussels Meeting (November 2009) 2 York Meeting (March 2010) 3 Rhodes Meeting (October 2010) 4 Berlin Meeting ( April 2011) 5 Ahtopol Meeting (May 2011) 6 Zadar Meeting (October 2011) 7 UK Meeting (Edinburgh, November 2011) 8 Amersfoort Meeting (April 2012) 9 Rome Meeting (September 2012) 10 Esbjerg Meeting (March 2013) 11 Final Conference, Szczecin (September 2013) www.splashcos.org


Splashcos – Actionsand Training for Early State Researchers (ESR)

6 Training Schools (66 Persons): in Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Spain, and Malta:- underwater excavation, acoustic survey, mapping, recording and conservation, sea level modelling, and palaeoenvironmental and geochronological analysis of palaeocoastlines.

11 Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs): involved individuals from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Latvia, Portugal, and UK.www.splashcos.org


Splashcos – Actionsmost of the work was organised by 4 Working groups:

WG 1: Archaeological Data and Interpretations

WG 2: Environmental Data and Reconstructions

(Geology, etc.)

WG 3: Technology,

Technical Resources and Training

WG 4: Commercial

Collaboration and Outreach

www.splashcos.org


WG 1: Archaeological Data and InterpretationsChair: Anders Fischer

o To audit and categorise the current state of knowledge about the existence, location, and chronological range of prehistoric (Stone Age) archaeological finds on the European continental shelf.

o To evaluate the potential significance of such data for the early history of human settlement and society in Europe (until 4000 cal. BC)

o Recommendations for future projects

Publication of an Atlas, visualising the submerged archaeological sites of Europe (in prep. by Anders Fischer et al.)www.splashcos.org


o Assemble data, or sources of data, on sea-level change, palaeoclimate, bathymetry, and related variables

o Assess issues of site preservation and taphonomyo To evaluate conditions for the survival and visibility of

prehistoric archaeological materials in different types of geological and oceanographic conditions and in different geographical regions of the shelf

WG 2: Environmental Data and ReconstructionsChair: Jan Harff

Publication of a Handbook, giving an overview about the actual research on the submerged land-scapes of Europe (in prep. by Nic Flemming et al.)www.splashcos.org


WG 3: Technology, Technical Resources and TrainingChairs: Ole Grøn, Tine Missiaen

o Production of a report about the capability of geophysical equipment for archaeological surveys on submerged landscapes

o Identification of centres of expertise, laboratories, skills, equipment, technical support, and training opportunities to facilitate interinstitutional, interdisciplinarywww.splashcos.org


WG 4: Commercial Collabo-ration and OutreachChair: Julie Satchell

o To establish channels of cooperation and collaboration with commercial and industrial organisations in sharing and monitoring of data

www.splashcos.org


Splashcos-Databases:

- Bibliography of all Splashcos-themes („Mendeley“, Jonathan Benjamin)

- Stable isotope database (Theis Zetner Trolle Jensen)

- New Databases for Archaoelogical and Geological Data? No!

- But „SPLASHCOS-viewer on GeoSeas“ (Combination of meta database and web-based viewer)

… still work in progress

Organised by Sytze van Heteren (data-management) & Hauke Jöns (corresponding within the archaeological community, collecting and checking the national datasets)

www.splashcos.org


Chances:

- Raising public and scientific awareness for submerged landscapes and sites

- Research tool on the european scale:- sorting for sites of different (archaeological) periods or ages- sorting for sites in different water depths - sorting for radiocarbon dated sites- sorting for sites with organic material - etc.- getting information about publications (references) and- getting access to further online-information (url)

- Mapping Tool for the planned Splashcos-Book 1 (Anders Fischer: „Atlas“)

Big Challenge:Data needed from all countries


Sea-bed Geology

BathymetryHydrography

Archaeology

EMODNet


Big Challenge:Data needed from all countries

CountryBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaDenmarkEstoniaFranceGermanyGreeceIrelandIsraelItalyLatvia LithuaniaMalta NetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSpainSwedenTurkeyUKUkraine

CorrespondantMarnix PietersHristina AngelovaIrena Radic RossiAnders FischerAivar KriiskaCyrille BillardHauke JönsNena GalanidouKieran WestleyEhud GaliliElena FlaviaValdis Berzin Algirdas GirininkasTim GambinAndrea Otte/Hans PeetersHakon GlørstadPrezemyslaw KrajewskiNuno BichoValentina VoineaPablo AriasBjörn NilssonHakan OnizGarry MomberValentina Yanko-Hombach

Splashcos-Network in function!


State of the art (March 2014): 2525 sites from 19 countriesBelgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cypres, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, no Splashcos-sites in their waters so far: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Spain.


Splashcos-viewer: Structure of information

Single find (unstratified)

Collection of finds (unstratified)

Settlement (in situ culture layer, features)

Grave/Burial

Depotfind/Offering

Rock Art/Carvings

Others




Mapped for „Type of site“




Mapped for „Archaeological Dating“



Typochronology

Dendrochronology

Radiocarbon Dating

OSL-Dating

Stratigraphy


Mapped for „Dating based on “




Mapped for „maximum waterdepths “

(Bailey 2011)



yes

no

unknown


Mapped for „organic material“





S. Andersen, Tybrind Vig (2013)

Complexe site, settlment and burials, organic material well preserved (see url and references),





Outline of the final phase of the project and the future:

State of the art:- There are still some datasets missing- some Datasets are not complete: absolute chronological dating of typochronologically dated sites, organic material, url and references etc.

Next steps:- Sending the actual version of the national datasets to the national correspondants for last corrections - Installation of the Splashcos-Viewer on GeoSeas web-system (2015)

Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research thank you for listening …

Thanks for implementing the Splashcos Viewer into the GeoSeas System to:

Sytze van Heteren & Dick Schaap

Thanks for technical support to Moritz Mennenga

Thanks a lot to the CorrespondantsMarnix PietersHristina AngelovaIrena Radic RossiAnders FischerAivar KriiskaCyrille BillardNena GalanidouKieran WestleyEhud GaliliElena FlaviaValdis Berzin Algirdas GirininkasTim GambinAndrea OtteHans PeetersHakon GlørstadPrezemyslaw KrajewskiNuno BichoValentina VoineaPablo AriasBjörn NilssonHakan OnizGarry MomberOlena Smyntyna

Thanks to the Splashcos and working group chairs:

Geoff BaileyDimitris Sakellariou

Nic FlemmingAnders Fischer

Jan HarffTine MessianJulie Satchel

Documents

Discover the submerged prehistory of Europe – aims, methods and outcomes