Northern North Sea and Atlantic Northwest Approaches

This chapter provides a general overview of existing knowledge and information relating to the submerged prehistoric landscape and archaeology of the continental shelf of the northern North Sea and Atlantic Northwest Approaches. Relatively high-resolution mapping vector and raster data for the coast of Scotland is held by the Ordnance Survey (OS), the Crown Estates and the British Geological Survey (BGS). Two BGS monographs summarize the Quaternary geology, seabed sediments and bathymetry of the area. A systematic approach is needed in order to catalogue areas that need investigation. These areas should be subject to targeted investigations following a wide area assessment for paleolandscape reconstruction. Specific features of pilot projects should include: increased data on relative sea-level change; predictive modeling for submerged site survival, including 3D modeling derived from energy and aggregate industry (third party) sources; survey for submerged sites in locations with high potential; a database of submerged paleoenvironmental information.