Offshore development: shaping the legacy for marine archaeology

Marine Archaeology Group online day conference - Offshore development: shaping the legacy for marine archaeology.

Thursday 27 November 2025, 10:00 - 15:30 GMT.

Description

In 2019 the CIfA Marine Archaeology Special Interest Group presented the session ‘Offshore development: creating a legacy for marine archaeology’. Since then, we are better at collaboration, better at thinking beyond project boundaries and a number of initiatives are exploring how we produce and manage data more effectively and work with communities to better realise public benefit. Targets for decarbonisation and renewable energy, the ever increasing need for marine aggregates, and the growing volume of shipping traffic mean that we are experiencing an unprecedented period of seabed change. Now, more than ever, there is a need for the effective management and preservation of the marine archaeological resource. This session will use case studies to show how far we have come in six years, how initiatives are shaping ‘how we do things’ and will include a discussion session exploring what we need to do to secure the future of the profession.

For more information about the 2019 session, please see the links below.

• https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/2025-03/Offshore-Development.-Creating-a-Legacy-for-Marine-Archaeology.pdf
• https://dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/2020/06/19/offshore-development-creating-a-legacy-for-marine-archaeology/

Agenda

10:00 Welcome and introduction to the day

10:10 The Profession

• Data and records for the marine historic environment – Hefin Meara (Historic England)
• Training and work experience for marine heritage – Alison James (MSDS Marine) and Peta Knott (Nautical Archaeology Society)

11:10 – 11:20 Break

11:20 Palaeolandscapes

• Case study from academic research and working with developers (Area 447) – Rachel Bynoe (University of Southampton)
• Case study from development led research (Palaeolandscape studies for large-scale offshore renewables projects) – Claire Mellett (Haskoning) and Wessex Archaeology

12:20 Lunch

1:30 Maritime/Aviation Archaeology

• Recovery and beyond - finds located within offshore development areas - Christin Heamagi (Maritime Archaeology Limited)
• Aircraft discoveries in offshore development areas – Mark James (MSDS Marine)

2:00 Break

2:10 Workshop

• Presentation on the developer’s perspective - Simon Bicknell (Orsted)
• Where do we go from here (led by session organisers)

3:10 Reflection and close to the day

3:30 End of day

Price

• £5 student or early careers
• £10 CIfA member or Marine Group supporter
• £20.00 non-member

Additional information

This is a virtual event conducted via Teams. The link to join the meeting will be sent via email at the point of registration, and a further reminder with joining link sent the day prior to the event. If you have any questions regarding booking or issues accessing the session please email groups@archaeologists.net.