Not Entered

Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by Cadw to acquire, process and interpret marine geophysical data over a number of known and suspected wreck site locations off the coast of Wales. This survey was conducted under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) contract and the data is Crown Copyright©. The data were acquired and processed by Wessex Archaeology. The marine geophysical surveys targeted a total of nine suspected wreck locations in Milford Haven area, off the coast of South Wales, seven of which represent the locations for the remains of 19th century Welsh vessels associated with the coal mining industry. Additional survey data were acquired over two 20th century sites within the Milford Haven, the Thor and the Sunderland. The acquisition of these data aimed to assist RCAHMW maritime team and the Sunderland Trust with on-going archaeological research and fund-raising. The marine geophysical surveys also targeted a total of ten suspected and known wreck site locations off the coast of Lleyn peninsula in North Wales. These included eight unconfirmed positions of 19th century Welsh vessels associated with the slate mining industry, two designated sites the Diamond and the Tal-Y-Bont, and the marine hazard of St Patrick’s Causeway with the aim of discovering new wreck sites. The project aimed to acquire marine geophysical data consisting of high resolution sidescan sonar and magnetic gradiometer data over a total of total of 21 known and suspected wreck positions and along the known marine hazard of St. Patrick’s Causeway. Since the sites were located in two different areas, they were surveyed during two separate surveys from the Pembroke based vessel Blue Shark. The first session surveyed sites mostly off Milford Haven in south Wales between 17th and 18th April 2010. The second session surveyed sites off the coast of Lleyn peninsula and along St. Patrick’s Causeway in north Wales between 23rd April 2010 and 2nd May 2010 with a day of mobilisation and a day of demobilisation at the start and end of the survey session. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English Heritage to undertake a project entitled ‘Wrecks on the Seabed: Assessment, Evaluation and Recording’. The project was supported by that part of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) distributed by English Heritage. The specific aim of this project was to provide industry, regulators and contractors with guidance on the archaeological assessment, evaluation and recording of wreck sites. ‘Assessment, evaluation and recording’ are taken to include various methods of archaeological investigation that are intended to improve the understanding, preservation and appreciation of the historic environment. The term ‘wreck site’ is taken to include the remains on the seabed of both watercraft and aircraft. As part of a variation of this project Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English Heritage to undertake a geophysical survey of four designated historic wrecks (A1 submarine, Hazardous, Invincible and Mary Rose) which focussed on the development and testing of methodology for rapid in situ recording using geophysical techniques. The geophysical survey included the use of multibeam echosounder, magnetometer and sub bottom profiler. The survey was undertaken from the 12.5 m Aquastar survey vessel Emu Surveyor belonging to Emu Ltd between 11th and 26th June 2003. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

The Institute of Geological Sciences now British Geological Survey (BGS) were invited by French institutes BRGM and CNEXO to participate in a magnetic and shallow seismic survey in the English channel between Cherbourg and Falmouth on the first operational cruise of the new French oceanographic ship Noroit in August 1971.

This geophysical survey has been carried out by British Geological Survey (BGS) for BGS, the survey took place in July 1989 off the coast of East Anglia on board the MV Shorething. The purpose was to collect data as part of the UK mapping programme for 1:50k special sheets. Sea floor data were collected using echosounder. Sub-bottom profiling data were collected using surface tow boomer and sidescan sonar. These data are archived by BGS. No BGS survey report currently available.

This geophysical magnetic survey has been carried out by, Institute of Geological Sciences (IGS) now British Geological Survey (BGS) in cooperation with Hydrogrphic Department of the Navy for BGS, the survey took place from spring/summer 1972 in the western English Channel on board the MV Researcher. The purpose was to collect data as part of a regional geophysical survey programme. Details of the survey are contained in IGS Annual Report 1972.

Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by English Heritage (EH) to undertake geophysical surveys as part of the project entitled ‘Wrecks on the Seabed: Assessing, Evaluating and Recording’, supported by Round 2 of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The specific aim of this project was to provide industry, regulators and contractors with guidance on the archaeological assessment, evaluation and recording of wreck sites. ‘Assessment, evaluation and recording’ are taken to include various methods of archaeological investigation that are intended to improve the understanding, preservation and appreciation of the historic environment. Geophysical surveys were conducted over five wreck site areas. This archive relates to the geophysical survey over the Liberator, an unknown wreck, and the submarine U86. Sidescan sonar and magnetometer data were acquired from the vessel Wessex Explorer on the 9th and 12th August 2005 and the multibeam echosounder data were acquired on the 15th and 19th August 2005. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data were also provided to other archive centres as appropriate.

This BGS led survey, conducted by Gardline took place between Oct2008 and Mar2009 in 3 phases. The first 2 phases were conducted aboard the Gardline MV Vigilant. The first phase was completed due to the advent of adverse whether. The second phase completed the deeper water portion of the survey Information from the first two phases is held under Survey Number 2008_5_MEPF. A 3rd phase was planned and completed on short notice in the shallow water parts of the survey area aboard the MV Confidante. Information from this third phase is held under Survey Number 2009_7_MEPF. The aim of the Humber Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC) survey, (unded through the Marine Environment Protection Fund of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF) was to acquire data, of the highest quality and resolution possible, to enable broadscale characterisation of the seabed habitat, associated biological communities and potential historic environmental assets within the region. The project was managed by the British Geological Survey (BGS), who largely designed the geophysical survey programme, with archaeological direction being supplied by the University of Birmingham and the environmental programme being directed by Marine Ecological Surveys (MES). The “geophysical” and subsequent “ground truthing” field work was carried out by Gardline Geosurveys under the guidance of the other partners. This report and the accompanying similar volume for the ground truthing phase, describe the field operations. The aims of these preliminary phases of the project were to provide data for other interested parties to process. Geophysical data collected includes: sub-tow (Suface tow on Confidante), Side-scan Sonar, Multibeam bathymetry, magnetometer. Technical details of the survey are contained in the Gardline Operations Report 7776/Ops/Geo.

This British Geological Survey (BGS) regional marine geophysical and sampling survey took place in September 1975 in Malin Sea on board the MV Whitethorn. The purpose was to gather data which could be used to map the regional geology of the area. Seabed samples and cores were collected using Gravity corer, Vibrocorer and borehole drilling. Sea floor data were collected using a echo-sounder. Subsurface data were gathered using a pinger. These data are archived by BGS. Technical details of the survey are contained in BGS Internal Report 75/17.

Report: Brett, CP. 1981. Cruise Report on Project 81/03. A Regional Geophysical Survey in the Southern North Sea. (IGS Report No 119) The primary objective was to complete the geophysical survey of the Tyne-Tees, California and Silver Well sheets of the IGS 1:250000 map series in advance of bottom sampling programme.