Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

How did our ancestors adapt to sea-level change? Discovering and safeguarding Europe’s underwater heritage through Continental Shelf Prehistoric Research
Chu, N.-C.; McDonough, N.; Flemming, N.C. (2014). How did our ancestors adapt to sea-level change? Discovering and safeguarding Europe’s underwater heritage through Continental Shelf Prehistoric Research. EMB Policy Brief, 1. European Marine Board: Ostend. 7 pp.
Part of: EMB Policy Brief. European Marine Board: Ostend. ISSN 0778-3590, more

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Archaeology
    Climate change
    Continental shelf
    Temporal variations > Long-term changes > Sea level changes
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Prehistory; Geoscience; Cultural heritage; Maritime spatial planning; Offshore industry

Authors  Top 
  • Chu, N.-C., more
  • McDonough, N., more
  • Flemming, N.C.

Abstract
    During the successive ice ages of the last 1 million years, the sea level dropped at times by up to 120m, adding the equivalent of an extra 40% to the land area of Europe. Vegetation, animals and people occupied this exposed terrain and left information on our ancestors’ migration patterns, social structures, seafaring and exploitation of coastal resources. With the rising sea level, this substantial part of Europe’s prehistory is now underwater and its preservation is being threatened by natural erosion and commercial maritime activities. A major increase in our efforts to explore these submerged prehistoric settlements is urgently needed to safeguard this heritage and support sustainable management of our coastal and offshore resources.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors