The environmental archaeology of the Late Bronze Age occupation platform at Shinewater, near Eastbourne, UK

Artefactual finds and their state of preservation indicate that the Late Bronze Age occupation platform at Shinewater is one of the most important wetland Bronze Age sites in northwest Europe. The platform is located within a thin, mostly freshwater, organic horizon, intercalating estuarine silts and clays. The platform is connected by a large trackway to higher ground (the South Downs) to the west. Environmental data show that the main function of the platform was food processing, both from arable and livestock sources. Utilisation of the wetlands around the platform produced significant modifications to the fen vegetation which, in association with climatic deterioration and failure of coastal sediment supplies, resulted in the marine inundation of the site around 800 cal. BC.