In 2006 work began to assess the potential for Palaeolithic Archaeology at the Valdoe, West Sussex. This is funded by Defra as part of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, administered through English Heritage.
This 7 month pilot project aims to characterise the geology of the site, determine the presence and nature of Lower Paleolithic archaeology and develop a framework for the future mitigation of the site.
The progress of this project can be followed here.
Beedings Upper Palaeolithic Site
On-going investigations of the Upper Paleolithic site of Beedings have exposed one of a series of fissures which preserved an assemblage of early Britsh UP artefacts. Working with Caroline Wells (Sussex University), fissures across the hill top were mapped and samples taken for dating and environmental analysis. In 2006 palaeolithic artefcats were recovered from one part of a fissure, it is hopped to recover more material as part of a new multidisciplinary project at the site in 2008.
Selsey Erratics
Samples of erratic boulders and cobbles from around Chichester Harbour, Thorney Island and Selsey Bill have been taken and are currently being subject to analysis to determine their origin.
Previous theories have suggested both Atlantic and Scandinavian sources for these boulders and have even suggested the former presence of an English Channel glacier. The results fo this analysis aim to determine the precise origin and mechanism of deposition for these boulders, some of which weigh several tonnes.