NHER 51516 (Find Spot record) - Middle Palaeolithic worked flints and other, multi-period finds, North Sea

This record primarily details archaeologically significant objects recovered during off-shore dredging within Aggregates Extraction Licence Area 240, which lies approximately 11km off the east Norfolk coast. These discoveries were reported to English Heritage/English Heritage through the Marine Aggregate Industry Protocol for Reporting Finds of Archaeological Interest. See (S1) and (S2) for further details. See NHER 69602 for information on an additional, poorly-located find that was potentially from Licence Area 240.

This area has also been the subject of a detailed archaeological evaluation, which was undertaken after significant Middle Palaeolithic material was recovered in 2007-2008.

FINDS FROM DREDGING

Pre 12 December 2007. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Wharf:
2 Palaeolithic mammoth tusk fragments.
See Discovery Report (S3) and reporting protocol annual report (S4) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

December 2007-February 2008. Off-shore Dredging.
In February 2008 Hanson Aggregates Marine Limited reported the discovery of a number of Palaeolithic flint artefacts and bones. These were discovered in gravel stockpiles and reject heaps at the SBV Flushing wharf in Vlissingen (Netherlands), where material from Licenced Dredging Area 240 was discharged. The artefacts were collected by local amateur archaeologist Jan Meulmeester.

In total 88 worked flints were recovered, including over 30 handaxes, along with 130 bones and bone fragments. By comparing the dates of Mr Meulmeester's visits with the GPS trackplot of the dredging vessel it was possible to identify the provenance of the artefacts, which was found to be a relatively discrete area measuring approximately 3.5km by 1.1km. An Archaeological Exclusion Zone (AEZ) was subsequently created around the site and dredging activities moved elsewhere.

The discoveries made in Area 240 attracted considerable attention and Mr Meulmeester was the winner of the CBA's Archaeological Discovery of the Year award in 2008 (awarded jointly to Mr Meulmeester, Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd and the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association). In 2011 a selection of the handaxes are on display at Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth.
See (S4)-(S6) for brief initial summaries of the discoveries made. These finds also featured in the Spring 2009 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S93) and further updates appeared in the Spring 2012 issue (S96) and the Spring 2014 issue (S98).

The 88 worked flints recovered at Vlissingen have been classified as 33 handaxes, 8 cores, 13 retouched flakes and 34 unmodified flakes. The handaxe assemblage has a high proportion of complete implements and is notably homogenous with cordiform and sub-cordiform types predominating. The handaxes had mostly been thinned using soft-hammer percussion and five had a tip that had been shaped by a single lateral tranchet blow that had probably been designed to sharpen (or resharpen) the implement. The flakes are all large and thick, although it must be born in mind that these artefacts were all recovered from stockpiles of oversize gravel from which smaller material had already been removed. The assemblage is described as displaying technological heterogeneity with most the result of hard-hammer percussion and many displaying evidence for prepared core Levallois techniques. Notably, most of the flake tools (which include scrapers, notched implements and miscellaneous retouched pieces) are made on what can be classified as classic (‘sensu stricto’) Levallois flakes. Three of the flake cores recovered can also be interpreted as Levallois cores (two as Levallois sensu stricto). The varying condition of these objects suggests that several taphonomic processes were responsible for the accumulation of this assemblage. The artefacts can be split into three broad groupings, each of which is likely to represent material derived from a distinct depositional context. The artefacts with only a minor patina and insignificant edge damage (mainly handaxes) may well have been disturbed from a primary (or near primary) context. A second group of objects show post-depositional surface modifications on one side (mainly flakes) which is suggestive of an eroding surface. The third category consists of heavily weathered artefacts that almost certainly originated from a secondary context such as gravel deposits.

Although the flints recovered at Vlissingen are typologically homogenous their exact date is not entirely certain. The most diagnostic pieces are the Levallois flakes as Levallois-dominated prepared-core technologies do not appear to have developed until around 300,000 years ago (late MIS 9-8), during the Early Middle Palaeolithic. A key issue is the likelihood of this material being at least broadly contemporary with the handaxe assemblage. As handaxes appear to have first emerged around 500,000 years ago those from Area 240 are not necessarily contemporary with the Levallois material. It is however argued that the condition of the artefacts and the nature of the flint used points towards the two components of the assemblage having been at least “…broadly contemporary in geological terms…”; suggesting that the artefacts are all therefore 300,000 years old or younger. If this is indeed the case the handaxes would represent quite a late example of a Lower Palaeolithic ‘Acheulian’ industry. The number of Levallois flakes recovered at Area 240 is greater than most, if not all, of the county’s other potentially Early Middle Palaeolithic sites and as a result there are few with which it can be directly compared. It does however appear that there may be a degree of consistency between this evidence and that recovered from sites inland to the west of Area 240. Although Levallois objects are generally scarce in the county they have been recovered at several sites along the Wensum and Yare valleys, including, notably at several sites that have also produced multiple handaxes of Lower Palaeolithic (Acheulean) type (such as Keswick Mill Pit (NHER 9560) and the Carrow area of Norwich (NHER 473)). It is also potentially significant that Wymer (S43) has suggested that the low terrace gravels within these valleys are not necessarily Anglian but could be the outwash from a subsequent glaciation, possibly at the end of MIS 8 (c. 250,000). This however must all be treated with a degree of caution, particularly as the number of Levallois objects is extremely small and at present there are no sites where an association with a handaxe industry has been reliably demonstrated. It would therefore be of considerable significance if the handaxes from Area 240 were indeed contemporary with the Levallois flakes, not least as research across the country increasingly suggests that handaxes are generally scarce or absent from Levallois assemblages. It should also be noted that there is a possibility that at least some of the handaxes from Area 240 are of a more recent date. The predominant handaxe forms are similar to those that characterise the Late Middle Palaeolithic ‘Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition’ (MTA). Handaxes of this type appear to be associated with the late Neanderthal population that partially reoccupied Britain between c. 115,000 and 29,000 years ago, following what appears to have been a protracted period of abandonment. Although the Area 240 handaxes are quite large when compared to some MTA assemblage they are nevertheless within the size range of the Late Middle Palaeolithic handaxes recovered in Norfolk at Lynford Quarry (NHER 37095). Interestingly the Lynford assemblage included a number of implements with tranchet blows and other evidence for maintenance and reworking.

The faunal remains assemblage recovered at Vlissingen includes a large number of terrestrial mammal bones including woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, bison, reindeer and horse. As with the worked flints some of this material is good condition and likely to be derived from a primary context whereas some of the bones are much more abraded, indicating that they had been removed from a secondary context. Radiocarbon dating suggests that around 70% of the assemblage is between 42,000 and 32,000 years old, the remaining 30% being heavily fossilised and therefore potentially more than 500,000 years old.

Ultimately our interpretation of the finds from Area 240 is hindered by the fact that they can only be associated with a geological unit which could well comprise numerous layers of sediment and therefore potentially multiple archaeological contexts.
See published report (S6) for further detail and preliminary report (S7) for additional information on the worked flints.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 14 February 2008. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Adur vessel:
1 ?modern aluminium ?aircraft fragment. This broken aluminium fabricated object appears to be a structural component and may be part of an aircraft. Photographs of the object were sent for identification at the RAF museum in Hendon and it was suggested that it might be a cockpit canopy handle.
See Discovery Report (S9) and reporting protocol annual report (S4) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
S. Howard (NLA), 19 March 2010. Updated by J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014.

April 2008. Off-shore Dredging.
Large concentrations of peat were discovered at various locations approximately 11km south-east of Great Yarmouth.
See Discovery Report (S10) and reporting protocol annual report (S4) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
S. Howard (NLA), 2010. Updated by J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014.

15 May 2008. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 Palaeolithic mammoth tooth. Not closely datable, mammoths having occurred in Britain between the Wolstonian ice age (380,000 to 130,000 years ago) and the Devensian ice age (c. 10,000 years ago).
See Discovery Report (S11) and reporting protocol annual report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

June 2008. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Wharf:
2 Palaeolithic mammoth teeth. Not closely datable, mammoths having occurred in Britain between the Wolstonian ice age (380,000 to 130,000 years ago) and the Devensian ice age (c. 10,000 years ago).
1 undatable prehistoric flint flake. Appears to have been struck and is likely to have been a waste flake from knapping of a tool but cannot be more closely dated.
See Discovery Report (S12) and reporting protocol annual report (S4) for further details. The flint flake is one of several such finds featured in the Autumn 2017 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S100).
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
S. Howard (NLA), 9 September 2010. Updated by J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014.

July 2009. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
2 undatable wooden rigging fittings.
1 undatable unidentified wooden object.
See Discovery Report (S13) and reporting protocol annual report (S14) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 21 October 2009. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Adur:
1 Palaeolithic mammoth tooth. See photograph (S15). The tooth was likely to have come from a woolly mammoth
(Mammuthus primigenius) but it is possible it may be from a steppe mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherri). Not closely datable, mammoths having occurred in Britain between the Wolstonian ice age (380,000 to 130,000 years ago) and the Devensian ice age (c. 10,000 years ago).
See Discovery Report (S16) and reporting protocol annual report (S17) for further details.
Between 2010 and 2014 this tooth underwent conservation at the English Heritage conservation laboratory - see report (S48) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
S. Howard (HES), 4 May 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 5 February 2010. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 post-medieval/modern wooded rigging block. The presence of metal in its construction suggests that it is probably 19th century or younger.
See Discovery Report (S18) and reporting protocol annual report (S17) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

December 2010. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Adur:
2 Roman or later sounding leads. Used to determine the depth of water beneath a vessel. Unfortunately the weights of these objects are unknown (which can indicate their exact purpose). One of them has a dimple in it which may have contained tallow for assessing the nature of the sea bed. As two were recovered it is possible that they indicate the position were part of a ship wreck.
See Discovery Report (S19) and reporting protocol annual report (S20) for further details. These finds were featured in the Autumn 2011 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S95).
Previously recorded as NHER 59945.
J. Page (HES), 14 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 March 2016.

June 2011. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Avon:
1 post-medieval wooden rigging sheave. Evidence for metal in the construction of this object suggests that it is unlikely to be earlier than the late 18th century. See photograph (S21).
1 unidentifiable wooden object.
See Discovery Report (S22) and reporting protocol annual report (S20) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre December 2011. Offshore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Adur:
2 World War Two aircraft fragments. Hydraulic jack and tailwing spar. Both from an aircraft made by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Limited (MVEL).
See Discovery Reports (S23) and (S24) and reporting protocol annual report (S20) for further details. These finds were featured in the Spring 2011 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S94).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

July 2012. Offshore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Flushing Wharf:
1 Palaeolithic mammoth tooth. Not closely datable as mammoths occurred in Britain from the Wolstonian ice age (380,000 to 130,000 years ago) to the end of the Devensian ice age (c.10, 000 years ago).
See Discovery Report (S25) and reporting protocol annual report (S26) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

October 2012. Off-shore dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Flushing Wharf:
1 ?Palaeolithic animal bone. See photograph (S27). The bone was probably a tibia from either a mammoth or a woolly rhinoceros.
See Discovery Report (S28) and reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

October 2012-May 2013. Off-shore dredging.
Material collected by local fossil specialists at Vlissingen wharf, under the supervision of the Natural History Museum, Rotterdam.
31 predominantly Palaeolithic animal bones. These included the remains of two different species of Mammoth, whale, rhinoceros and deer
See Discovery Report (S30) and reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 21 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

May 2013. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 post-medieval/modern anchor stock. This particular type is known as an admiralty or fisherman's anchor and was very common throughout the last 200 years.
See Discovery Report (S31) and reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 21 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

August 2013. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 post-medieval/modern lead sinker. The object was probably used in fishing.
See Discovery Report (S32) and reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details. The find is one of a number of objects featured in the Autumn 2013 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S97)
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 21 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 11 October 2013. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 undatable lead sounding weight. The weight may date from any period from the middle ages to the modern period.
See Discovery Report (S33) and reporting protocol annual report (S34) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 55483.
J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 24 March 2014. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Victor Horta:
1 ?Middle Palaeolithic mammoth tooth. Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) molar. Example potentially dates to last glaciation (c. 70,000 to 20,000 years ago).
See Discovery Report (S35) and reporting protocol annual report (S34) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

April 2014. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson’s Arco Dijk:
1 undatable ship's timber.
See Discovery Report (S36) and reporting protocol annual report (S34) for further details. This object is featured in the Autumn 2014 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S99), where it is noted that wood analysis suggests it is well-preserved oak.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 5 December 2015. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at the Dagenham Wharf:
1 undatable animal bone. Large bone, possibly from a bovid.
See Discovery Report (S37) and reporting protocol annual report (S47) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 22 August 2018. Off-shore Dredging.
Discovered on board Hanson's Arco Beck:
1 ?Palaeolithic worked flint object. Reported as a possible handaxe due to its roughly teardrop shape. The specialist who examined photographs of the object determined that it was indeed a worked flint but probably not a handaxe.
See Discovery Report (S49) and reporting protocol annual report (S50) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

2019-2020 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
2 undated animal bones. Identified as a skull fragment from an animal with horns or antlers and a horse's tibia. Notably, the latter appears to have been struck several times in the same direction - potentially evidence of stone-tool butchery. What look to be cut marks from either skinning or filleting can also be seen.
Reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details. Discovery Report awaited. These bones were featured in the Autumn 2020 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S102).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 20 May 2019. Off-shore Dredging.
Discovered on board Hanson's Arco Avon:
1 post-medieval cast iron cannonball. Measurements suggest this was probably a 68 pounder and therefore post-medieval in date; guns of this calibre not having been introduced until 1780. It is possible that it was fired during the Battle of the Dogger Bank which was fought between the British and the Dutch on 5 August 1781 (the only known battle in this area).
See Discovery Report (S51) and reporting protocol annual report (S52) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

Pre 27 September 2019. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
1 Palaeolithic tooth fragment and 1 tusk fragment. Both identified as probably woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), which was in existence in Europe between approximately 350,000 and 10,000 years ago.
2 undatable unidentified bone fragments. Smaller piece resembles a cattle-sized rib fragment but the large piece is unidentifiable.
1 modern metal engine valve. Valve stem from diesel engine that could date from the 1950s through to the present day. Doesn’t appear to have been underwater very long.

Discovered on board Hanson's Arco Beck:
1 Palaeolithic animal bone. Second neck vertebra of an elephant, the size of which is consistent with woolly mammoth.

See Discovery Reports (S53)-(S56) and reporting protocol annual report (S52) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

Pre 4 November 2019. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
1 Palaeolithic animal bone. Virtually complete tooth from woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).
See Discovery Report (S57) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

Pre 13 November 2019. Off-shore Dredging.
Found together at Dagenham Wharf:
1 Lower/Middle Palaeolithic flint handaxe. Cordiform handaxe that has undergone considerable damage to its tip and edges.
1 Middle Palaeolithic Levallois flake. Dorsal surface has three parallel flake scars that indicate it was removed from a prepared Levallois core.
26 Palaeolithic (or later) animal bones. Majority identified as woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Other species represented include rhinoceros, auroch, cattle, deer and horse. A small number of the fragments could only be identified as being from large mammals. Possible butchery marks identified on a rhinoceros scapula were found to be the result of it having been chewed by animals, possibly hyenas.

Also found together at Dagenham Wharf:
4 Lower/Middle Palaeolithic flint handaxes. Sub-cordate handaxe in sharp to slightly rolled condition, small, unpatinated and unstained cordiform/discoidal handaxe in a rolled condition, a small cordate hand axe in relatively sharp condition and a cordiform handaxe made on a flake in very sharp, unstained and unpatinated condition.
1 Middle Palaeolithic flint Levallois flake.
16 ?Palaeolithic flint flakes, 2 ?flakes, 1 blade and 1 core.
84 Palaeolithic (or later) animal bones. Majority identified as woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Other species represented include auroch, cattle, deer and horse. Some of the fragments could only be identified as being from large mammals.

As described in the Spring 2020 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S101) these Palaeolithic finds were recovered during a wharf visit by archaeologists after megafaunal finds has been recovered from a new lane in Area 240 (lane F10). The oversize of the remaining cargo was spread out and visually inspected. Due to the number of archaeologically-significant finds an exclusion zone was placed around lane F10. This and a subsequent operational sampling visit to Dagenham Wharf are featured in the Autumn 2021 issue of the newsletter (S104).

Also found at Dagenham Wharf around the same time:
1 post-medieval pottery sherd. From glazed Redware colander.
1 modern metal shell casing. Shell case from a 20mm Hispano cannon round from a Hawker Sea Fury aircraft.
See Discovery Reports (S58)-(S63) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details. The post-medieval pottery sherd was featured in the Spring 2020 issue of the scheme's newsletter (S101).
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

Pre 17 December 2019. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
1 modern iron hook. Probably earlier than 1930 in date with a spike connection suggesting it was attached to timber rather than metal.
See Discovery Report (S64) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2020.

Pre 18 March 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
3 World War Two bullets. One is a 0.5 inch M2 Browning machine gun bullet - a type used by most American aircraft during World War Two. The others are from the Boys 0.55 inch Anti-Tank Rifle and had probably been fired from a training range on the coast.
See Discovery Report (S65) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 December 2020.

Pre 6 April 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
1 undatable animal bone fragment. Not yet positively identified, although marine growth visible on its surface suggests it had been on the seabed for some time.
See Discovery Report (S66) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 December 2020.

Pre 2 September 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
1 Palaeolithic tusk fragment. Identified as being from elephant family. Stained black, suggesting it had lain within an organic deposit on the seabed for a long time.
See Discovery Report (S67) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 December 2020.

Pre 14 September 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
1 Palaeolithic animal bone fragment. Probably part of a mammoth pelvis.
See Discovery Report (S68) and reporting protocol annual report (S89) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 December 2020.

Pre 12 October 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf (amongst material from lane F10, before that lane became part of the archaeological exclusion zone within Area 240):
1 Middle Palaeolithic flint handaxe. A cordiform implement in generally sharp condition.
See Discovery Report (S69) and reporting protocol annual report (S90) for further details. This handaxe was featured in the Spring 2021 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S103).
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 24 November 2020. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Thurrock Wharf:
1 modern connector for armoured underwater cable. Most likely lost from deck of a cable repair ship.
See Discovery Report (S70) and reporting protocol annual report (S90) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 8 January 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
2 Palaeolithic animal bone fragments. Curved fragments, both likely to be rib fragments from a woolly rhinoceros or mammoth (potentially from the same animal).
See Discovery Reports (S71) and (S72) and reporting protocol annual report (S90) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 28 April 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel:
Post-medieval wrought iron anchor head.
See Discovery Report (S73) and reporting protocol annual report (S91) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 1 November 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of a poorly-located World War Two German flare pistol found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from either Licence Area 240 or Licence Area 401/2b (NHER 61441).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 10 November 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
1 post-medieval/modern wooden ship's block.
1 World War One to World War Two brass British artillery fuse. Most likely fired during training.
1 World War Two probable electrical fuse from German aerial bomb.
1 modern metal cap of uncertain function.
See Discovery Reports (S74)-(S77) and reporting protocol annual report (S92) for further details. The ship's block was featured in the Spring 2024 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S105).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 23 May 2024. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
1 ?World War Two aluminium aircraft component. Fragment of airframe, most likely from an aircraft lost during World War Two.
2 post-medieval/modern wooden ship components - a treenail probably from a moderate to large scale vessel and a rib fragments likely derived from a much smaller vessel.
See Discovery Reports (S78) and (S79) and reporting protocol annual report (S92) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 23 July 2024. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
1 post-medieval wooden probable ship component. Probably a piece of ship planking.
1 modern (21st century) cow bone.
See Discovery Reports (S80) and (S81) and reporting protocol annual report (S92) for further details. The probable ship component was featured in the Autumn 2024 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S106).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 11 September 2024. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
1 ?World War Two aluminium possible aircraft component fragment.
See Discovery Report (S82) and reporting protocol annual report (S92) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 3 December 2024. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
4 post-medieval wooden ship components. These fragments all show signs of working (including evidence of treenail holes) and were probably once part of a vessel or craft. Their exact age is though impossible to determine.
See Discovery Report (S83) for further details. Associated annual report awaited. These finds were featured in the Spring 2025 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S107).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 9 June 2025. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on electromagnet at Greenhithe Wharf:
1 ?World War Two British Mills 36 grenade. Most likely deposited during World War Two, although this type of grenade was in use from the First World War through to the 1970s.
See Discovery Report (S84) for further details. Associated annual report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 7 August 2025. Off-shore Dredging.
1 undated iron unidentified object. Possibly a piece of iron ore rather than an artefact.
9 modern metal unidentified objects. Pieces with ripped and fragmented edges suggesting they were torn from their original structure with considerable force. Although their appearance suggests they are potentially aircraft related they are too thick to be part of an airframe.
1 modern metal unidentified object. Although it has holes and rivets it appears to be make of brass or zinc, so therefore isn't (directly) aircraft related.
See Discovery Reports (S85)-(S87) for further details. Associated annual report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 3 September 2025. Off-shore Dredging.
1 post-medieval/modern cattle bone.
See Discovery Report (S88) for further details. Associated annual report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF AREA 240

Between 2008 and 2011 Wessex Archaeology conducted a detailed archaeological evaluation of Licenced Dredging Area 240, this work being undertaken in order to establish the geological and geomorphological context of the Palaeolithic material disturbed by dredging in 2007/2008. The evaluation was a development of Wessex Archaeology’s existing Seabed Prehistory project and was supported by a grant from the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund. The assessment of Area 240 included a detailed re-examination of geophysical and geotechnical data from industrial surveys, additional geophysical survey, coring to obtain samples of the sedimentary sequence and palaeoenvironmental assessment and scientific dating of the samples taken.
This work is now fully published as (S6). See also unpublished reports (S39)-(S43). The OSL dating is also detailed in (S44).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

MONITORING OF DREDGE LOADS

In 2011 Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a programme of archaeological monitoring of dredging activity, the primary aim of which was to assess potential mitigation strategies that could result in the future reduction or removal of the AEZ within Area 240. This work comprised a walkover survey of aggregates within the hopper of the dredger itself and a visual examination of the material while it was being unloaded at the receiving wharf.
This work and the artefacts recovered are described in (S6). See also unpublished reports (S45) and (S46).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.