Coastal
authorities face a number of specific and additional responsibilities
to ensure protection of the archaeology of the coastal zone.
These include assessing and monitoring of coastal processes
and their effects in the archaeological and built heritage,
countering natural forces of erosion which serve to expose and
destroy large number s of archaeological sites contained within
this dynamic environment, dealing with specialised coastal material,
and providing effective archaeological services capable of seizing
short windows of opportunity available to investigate and record
sub-tidal deposits newly and regularly revealed in the coastal
zone.
There are
particular challenges in locating and recording archaeological
remains below high water and many coastal features have in the
past been under-represented on HERs. In recognition of this
a number of coastal authorities are carrying out projects to
improve their records.
Thorugh
the Maritime Committee, liaison with coastal agencies and sectoral
interests is developing best practice for the protection of
the coastal and seabed heritage.
