Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SUBNORDICA (Beyond submerged landscapes - defining human response to postglacial sea-level rise and climate change)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-04-01 al 2025-09-30
SUBNORDICA - Beyond Submerged Landscapes
At the last glaciation ca. 20.000 years ago, the global sea level was approximately 130 m lower than the present day sea level, and vast landscapes extended for millions of square kilometres offshore of the world’s coastline. These landscapes which were drowned by sea level rise, are known to preserve valuable archives of landscapes, palaeoclimatic change and stratified archaeological remains, with the potential to transform understanding of human history in this period of dramatic change. The absence of archaeological sites across much of this vast area prevents realisation of this potential.
In SUBNORDICA we propose a systematic approach to develop new methods for recreating the now submerged landscapes and human settlement of NW Europe and to assess the impact of postglacial sea level rise, by integrating information from existing and new geophysical, geological, palaeoenvironmental and archaeological datasets.
SUBNORDICA aims to answer two overarching scientific questions: 1) What changes to the topography and environment of the submerged landscape were brought about by rising sea level and climate change? and 2) How was the distribution of archaeological settlements and other traces of cultural activity impacted by this changing palaeolandscape, and can we recover them in sufficient detail to investigate human impact and human response?
To answer the scientific questions, the project is focused on three objectives: 1) Identify areas of the palaeolandscape with likely concentrations of archaeological materials, and optimal conditions for preservation and discovery, as potential targets for closer inspection, 2) Develop new methods of characterising underwater archaeological sites or other remains of cultural activity, working from known sites and cultural features onshore and in shallow water towards identification of potential targets elsewhere and at greater depth and further offshore, and 3) Investigate newly identified potential archaeological targets and recover data for palaeoenvironmental and archaeological interpretation.
Combining information from four regions in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, we will use artificial intelligence to develop machine-learning routines to identify from existing and new data, new targets of archaeological potential for more detailed investigation.
SUBNORDICA aims to reveal a new chapter in human prehistory, provide a world-leading model for the investigation of submerged landscapes, and offer improved policy guidance for underwater cultural heritage management.
SUBNORDICA is a 6-years ERC funded Synergy Grant project. The research is structures around six work packages.
At the last glaciation ca. 20.000 years ago, the global sea level was approximately 130 m lower than the present day sea level, and vast landscapes extended for millions of square kilometres offshore of the world’s coastline. These landscapes which were drowned by sea level rise, are known to preserve valuable archives of landscapes, palaeoclimatic change and stratified archaeological remains, with the potential to transform understanding of human history in this period of dramatic change. The absence of archaeological sites across much of this vast area prevents realisation of this potential.
In SUBNORDICA we propose a systematic approach to develop new methods for recreating the now submerged landscapes and human settlement of NW Europe and to assess the impact of postglacial sea level rise, by integrating information from existing and new geophysical, geological, palaeoenvironmental and archaeological datasets.
SUBNORDICA aims to answer two overarching scientific questions: 1) What changes to the topography and environment of the submerged landscape were brought about by rising sea level and climate change? and 2) How was the distribution of archaeological settlements and other traces of cultural activity impacted by this changing palaeolandscape, and can we recover them in sufficient detail to investigate human impact and human response?
To answer the scientific questions, the project is focused on three objectives: 1) Identify areas of the palaeolandscape with likely concentrations of archaeological materials, and optimal conditions for preservation and discovery, as potential targets for closer inspection, 2) Develop new methods of characterising underwater archaeological sites or other remains of cultural activity, working from known sites and cultural features onshore and in shallow water towards identification of potential targets elsewhere and at greater depth and further offshore, and 3) Investigate newly identified potential archaeological targets and recover data for palaeoenvironmental and archaeological interpretation.
Combining information from four regions in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, we will use artificial intelligence to develop machine-learning routines to identify from existing and new data, new targets of archaeological potential for more detailed investigation.
SUBNORDICA aims to reveal a new chapter in human prehistory, provide a world-leading model for the investigation of submerged landscapes, and offer improved policy guidance for underwater cultural heritage management.
SUBNORDICA is a 6-years ERC funded Synergy Grant project. The research is structures around six work packages.
In the first 18 months of the project, several activities has been performed in the work packages relating to some main achievements. These include:
1) offshore field work and targeted data collection in the North Sea and Baltic Sea forming basis for further palaeolandscape reconstructions (WP1, WP2, WP4)
2) underwater marine archaeological excavations with retrieval of archaeological material in the Baltic Sea and Aarhus Bay providing new information on Mesolithic coastal and hinterland settlement behavior (WP3, WP4)
3) purchase, testing and development of new equipment for underwater archaeological investigations including prototype for underwater GPS setup (WP3, WP4)
4) collations of existing data to identify the major surfaces (and their attributes) that define the palaeolandscape in the North Sea (WP1, WP2)
5) palaeolandscape reconstructions from legacy and new data leading to new insights into palaeo-incisions and landscape evolution (WP1, WP2, WP4)
6) creation of an initial basemap designed to support regional and site-specific research, incorporating a surface model based on interpretation of the last Pleistocene / Early Holocene terrestrial topography, with corresponding feature set implemented via GIS at a regional level (WP5)
7) establishment of a workflow process for use across project to support development of AI tools, digital models and simulations (WP5)
8) initial development of AI tool for automated identification of tree trunks in bathymetry data (WP3)
9) construction of an integrated data-sharing infrastructure which encompasses spatial data, large geophysical data sets and software (WP6)
10) launch of across-project working groups leading to synergistic collaboration across the work packages on project-wide subjects such as offshore field work, underwater excavations, AI, simulation and modelling
11) Initiation of online seminar series jointly hosted by SUBNORDICA
12) Launch of citizen science initiative aiming to strengthen collaboration between museums and local sport divers (WP3)
1) offshore field work and targeted data collection in the North Sea and Baltic Sea forming basis for further palaeolandscape reconstructions (WP1, WP2, WP4)
2) underwater marine archaeological excavations with retrieval of archaeological material in the Baltic Sea and Aarhus Bay providing new information on Mesolithic coastal and hinterland settlement behavior (WP3, WP4)
3) purchase, testing and development of new equipment for underwater archaeological investigations including prototype for underwater GPS setup (WP3, WP4)
4) collations of existing data to identify the major surfaces (and their attributes) that define the palaeolandscape in the North Sea (WP1, WP2)
5) palaeolandscape reconstructions from legacy and new data leading to new insights into palaeo-incisions and landscape evolution (WP1, WP2, WP4)
6) creation of an initial basemap designed to support regional and site-specific research, incorporating a surface model based on interpretation of the last Pleistocene / Early Holocene terrestrial topography, with corresponding feature set implemented via GIS at a regional level (WP5)
7) establishment of a workflow process for use across project to support development of AI tools, digital models and simulations (WP5)
8) initial development of AI tool for automated identification of tree trunks in bathymetry data (WP3)
9) construction of an integrated data-sharing infrastructure which encompasses spatial data, large geophysical data sets and software (WP6)
10) launch of across-project working groups leading to synergistic collaboration across the work packages on project-wide subjects such as offshore field work, underwater excavations, AI, simulation and modelling
11) Initiation of online seminar series jointly hosted by SUBNORDICA
12) Launch of citizen science initiative aiming to strengthen collaboration between museums and local sport divers (WP3)
No results beyond the state of the arts yet