Lydd Ranges Sea, Defence Scheme - Geoarchaeological Borehole Survey

Wessex Archaeology

In order to offset the impact of coastal defence improvement works on deposits of geoarchaeological interest in the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI, a programme of geoarchaeological works was required on the foreshore, Green Wall and within marshland landward of the current Green Wall. The works target three areas of marsh (Zones, C, E and G) located between gravel ridges of the Dungeness Foreland.

The geoarchaeological works identified a consistent sequence of deposits across Zones C, E and G comprising a basal sand, in turn overlain by sands and gravels, gravels and a sequence of clays and silts with localised organic units. The deposits correspond broadly to the existing preliminary ground model for the scheme, although displaying lateral variation in the presence, composition, thickness and elevation of deposits.