Event/Activity EPM290 - Archaeological and geoarchaeological monitoring Farlington Marshes

RSK ADAS Ltd carried out archaeological monitoring on 78 test pits and 38 boreholes at Farlington Marshes between the 8th August and 14th September 2023 as part of ground investigation works. The pits were hand dug and measured an average of 0.50m long by 0.50m wide and 1.0m deep. The majority were excavated within the path adjacent to the sea wall. Boreholes were dug through the test pits and the geotechnical borehole logs analysed by a geoarchaeologist to create a deposit model. No finds of archaeological significance were identified during the excavation of the test pits. Two fragments of wood were recovered from the cores of two boreholes in the south-east of the marshes at approximately 2.0m below ground level. Further analysis of the wood had not been undertaken at the time the report was produced and it is not known whether there were of archaeological significance. The sequence from one borehole which contained alluvial and peat deposits was deemed to be very important from a palaeoenvironmental perspective. It was concluded that further analysis of samples from the area may provide more of an indication on the potential for evidence of prehistoric activity associated with previously identified potential prehistoric land surfaces.