Bouldnor and the Submerged Solent

Project summary

This project will investigate the submerged prehistoric landscapes of the western Solent, where rising sea levels have preserved some of the UK’s only in situ Mesolithic settlement sites beneath the seabed. Building on nearly three decades of archaeological research, the project will create an up-to-date morphological baseline of the drowned landscape, analyse the relationship between ancient environmental features and human activity, and integrate geophysical, palaeoenvironmental and sedaDNA data to develop a comprehensive model of the Bouldnor Cliff and north-west Solent landscape.

The research will provide an important benchmark for monitoring ongoing coastal erosion, helping to protect a nationally significant archaeological resource that is increasingly at risk from climate change. The findings will support future research and coastal heritage management, while a digital reconstruction of the changing landscape will form a flagship exhibit at the Maritime Archaeology Trust’s new Isle of Wight museum, enabling visitors to explore how prehistoric communities adapted to environmental change and highlighting the relevance of submerged heritage to contemporary discussions of sea-level rise and climate resilience.