: A geoarchaeological watching brief monitoring exercise was undertaken between the 17/06/2024-22/06/2024 at the site of The Humber, Kilingholme Marshes, (NGR TA 16145 19906). The work was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group for Able UK Ltd. The site has been subject of a previous Development Consent Order (DCO) issued in 2014 (Ref SI2935). This report summarises the stratigraphic sequence of geoarchaeological remains and discusses the results in relation to their archaeological and paleoenvironmental potential. The principal objective of this report is to present the results, refine the research objectives of the project in light of the findings, and make recommendations concerning any subsequent archaeological investigations in order to address these research objectives. The geoarchaeological watching brief exercise comprised the monitoring of ground works to a maximum depth of c.3 m BGL. Geoarchaeological deposit data can be used to identify areas of archaeological potential by characterising the probable nature and depth of sub-surface deposits. The deposit sequence recorded across the site included Victorian to Modern made ground and Holocene upper Intertidal. Previously produced sediment profiles have enabled the elevation of post 2001 river sediment deposits to be identified. This was compared to the elevation of the upper boundary of the upper intertidal deposit to characterise pre-2001 and post-2001 sediment deposition. The peat band identified in previous borehole investigations, (c. 4.5 m OD to 3.9 m OD) was not observed throughout the rest of the site, most likely due to the basal boundary of the upper intertidal deposits not being reached. Development impacts from the currently proposed Marine Energy Park may affect the marine historic environment including the preserved land surface(s), by truncating the Holocene intertidal sequence. Archaeological remains associated with accessing and processing coastal and wetland resources may survive within these. It is recommended if there is additional work that goes to a greater depth than 3 m BGL, archaeological monitoring will need to take place. This will enable more paleoenvironmental assessment to identify and characterise the basal boundary of the upper intertidal and any organic deposits present, particularly the possible continuation of the peat band identified in previous investigations. The excavation enabled the recording of the upper boundary of Holocene intertidal deposits present between c. 0-3 m BGL (5.9 m OD to 2.1 m OD) overlain by modern made ground, present between c. 0 -1.5 m BGL (5.75 m OD to 3.5 m OD). The ground works did not reach depths that would enable the characterisation of the basal boundaries of the upper intertidal deposits and potential continuation of the peat horizon noted in previous works The depth of the eight recorded sequences ranged between 1 m BGL to 3 m BGL. Sediment deposition within the development area post 2001 has been profiled, once in 2010 and another in 2015. Lidar data from along the Killingholme Marshes foreshore have reported up to 5m of river sediment accretion since 2001. Using these Lidar surface profiles, the upper intertidal recorded within the sediment suggests two depositional periods are present on site. 'Pre 2001 and 'Post 2001'. The peat band identified in previous borehole investigations, (c. 4.5 m OD- 3.9 m OD) was not observed throughout the rest of the site, most likely due to the basal boundary of the upper intertidal deposits not being reached.
Allardice et al. (Mon,) studied this question.