The wadden sea of north-west Germany: An intertidal environment of high archaeological research potential

Abstract

This paper presents the first results of an inventory of archaeological remains in the Wadden Sea of northwest Germany. We have generated palaeogeographic maps on the basis of a geological reconstruction of Holocene landscape evolution from archive core data, and use these to identify areas where human traces have potentially been preserved during different time intervals. Currently, the cultural heritage is being increasingly threatened by coastal protection measures, dredging of waterways as well as offshore industrial activity. Recording of known sites, prospecting for new sites and the subsequent investigation and monitoring of both demonstrate the research potential of this region. These results will be instrumental in helping to recover information about the cultural archive before it is destroyed by erosion and to identify target areas for future research.