ROCKY COAST GEOMORPHOLOGY: THE KEY TO UNLOCKING OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE

Archaeological coastal sites play a crucial role in the cultural heritage of our country. At Tintagel, Cornwall, the geomorphological evolution of the rocky coastline is critical to interpreting the site: the early medieval citadel was built here because of the strategic headland. We cannot reconstruct the history of this nationally important site without understanding the geomorphology. Cliff erosion and the risks to coastal property has long been a topic of investigation; however, in the context of climate change, there is a limited understanding of the vulnerability of rocky coastlines. In situ and remotely sensed techniques have recently been adopted to understand wave-beach-cliff interaction; this project would extend our understanding of these dynamics to plunging coastal cliffs (with no beach frontage), where measurements have not yet been obtained.

The knowledge that the studentship will bring will enable us to understand how to conserve coastal heritage for future generations.