Project overview
Dates: Oct 2024 – Oct 2034
Summary:
The UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has awarded the University of Southampton £2M to set up and run the new Coastal & Inland Waters Heritage Science Facility. The cutting-edge facility award is part of the AHRC’s Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme.
Project Overview:
This project will enable investigation of historic maritime sites around the UK which are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and help preserve some of the most significant and at-risk sites, such as shipwrecks, historic ports and ancient dwellings – all of which tell an important story about our maritime past.
The project is led by Professor Fraser Sturt, Maritime Archaeologist and Deputy Director of the Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute, with co-investigators across the University.
The Southampton facility will use the latest 3D scanning, sensing and data capture technology, along with uncrewed aerial, surface and underwater vehicles, to explore lakes, coasts and inland waterways. It will examine anything from million-year-old tools and footprints, to downed aircraft, and submerged settlements. The project will draw on the breadth of the University’s strengths in marine and maritime research to accelerate technological applications and development.
Funder: UKRI AHRC
