Exploring the history of South Downs coastline
March 11, 2022
Archaeologists are exploring the amazing history of Seaford Head as part of a new project.
The beauty spot in East Sussex is a nationally important heritage site and is classified as a Scheduled Monument, but is at increasing risk of coastal erosion linked to climate change.
Jon Sygrave, project manager for Archaeology South-East, which is leading the project, explained: “Seaford Head is a striking and beautiful site featuring archaeology of multiple periods, including a Bronze Age bowl barrow (a type of burial mound), an Iron Age hillfort and a Second World War reinforced concrete structure.
“Using a combination of non-intrusive archaeological techniques, we are assessing and recording the threatened heritage on Seaford Head. This includes desk-based analysis of historic maps, and aerial, topographic and geophysical survey, and could result in the discovery of previously unknown heritage assets.
“A crucial part of this is using a drone to capture archaeological features exposed in the cliff and accurately map the site’s earthworks to create a 3D model of Seaford Head, preserving its complex heritage for future generations.”
The project is funded by £18,975 from Historic England with contributions from the South Downs National Park Authority towards fieldwork and production of some short films to open up the debate around heritage and coastal loss, as well as revealing more about how sites can be ‘preserved’ through digital technologies. It draws together the expertise of UCL archaeologists from Archaeology South-East, artists and videographers along with several key stakeholders, including Seaford Town Council, the National Park Authority and Historic England.
Anooshka Rawden, Cultural Heritage Lead for the National Park Authority, said: “This project is not only both exciting and timely given we know very little about this site, but it will also give us an opportunity to open up the conversation about heritage loss linked to landscape change.
We have the chance to rediscover lost stories that reveal the deep time of the South Downs.”
Artist and writer Alinah Azadeh will be working with the Seaford Head Project team to create a short spoken-word performance on film reflecting both the archaeological findings and the wider issue of landscape change and heritage loss.
