Maritime Archaeology

Marine and coastal archaeology form a vital component of our work as the tempestuous North Sea and its imposing coastline dominate parts of Teesside. The sea has played an important part in defining the archaeology of the area as people have exploited its resources and used it for trade and commerce.

The Teesside coastline runs from Crimdon Dene in the north to Staithes in the south. As well as coastal features such as ports, harbours and military defences, the seabed and coast is littered with the remains of literally hundreds of shipping losses, mainly from the 19th century.

Our aims in researching maritime archaeology run hand in hand with our work on land. However the sea and inter-tidal zone present significant obstacles to study given the difficult working environment that they present. Even sites in the intertidal zone can be visible one day and buried beneath metres of sand the next.

In recent years, to better understand the maritime resource, we have concentrated on enhancing our records of coastal industry and shipwrecks. In 1995 we completed a survey of all maritime sites and added over 1400 records, mainly shipping losses, to the Historic Environment Record.

To further enhance this record we have established an active programme of recording of maritime sites, including chance finds which might be either washed up on the sands or uncovered by storms. A good example of a major chance find is the Seaton Carew Wreck.

Excavation of sites between low and high water mark can be particularly problematic but often produce excellent results, for example, Hartlepool’s Submerged Forest and the wreck of the steamship 'Dimitris' at Redcar.

For more information on Maritime and Coastal Archaeology see the following projects.

The Seaton Carew Shipwreck
An exceptional chance maritime find, proving to be the most substantially intact wooden shipwreck yet discovered on the North-East coast of England.

The Wreck of the Dimitris
In 2001, members of the British Sub-Aqua Club, 'Cleveland Divers', surveyed the remains of the Greek steamship 'Dimitris', which was wrecked off Redcar on the night of December 14th, 1953.

Saltburn Rutway Survey

A series of rutways cut into the foreshore around Huntcliff Foot, Saltburn, associated with the local Alum and Ironstone industries.

Hartlepool Submerged Forest
10,000 years ago Hartlepool Bay was dry-land covered by a dense forest. Read about our long-term work into rediscovering this lost landscape.

Designated Historic Wreck at Seaton Carew.

Maritime's

Related Sites.

PortCities Hartlepool
An exciting and accessible learning resource which focuses on Hartlepool's important maritime history and development.

Nautical Archaeology Society
Furthering interest in our underwater cultural heritage.

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