18th July 2008, 01:51 PM
I am aware of a hydro scheme in West Africa, built some decades ago, where archaeological remains are affected.
The first of several dams (built around 1924) is surrounded by a large number of settlement platforms with orthostatic retaining walls, producing stone/quartz tools and pottery. The platforms and associated agricultural features are completely different in character from 'traditional' settlement types known in the area in the 19th-21st centuries. The sites were recognised in the late 1970's by one of the engineers on site, who showed them at the time to an archaeologist he knew, and to me around 1990.
Those platforms at or around the water surface level are clearly suffering some erosion, although surprisingly little since it has been going on for over 80 years. The number affected is increased by the very large seasonal fluctuations in the water level in the reservoir. This may be less of an issue in the UK.
It is to be presumed that there are more sites permanently below water, which will be covered with silt.
Unfortunately, the local archaeological authorities, when informed of these sites and shown some of the artefacts, expressed no interest whatever and told us to go away.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
The first of several dams (built around 1924) is surrounded by a large number of settlement platforms with orthostatic retaining walls, producing stone/quartz tools and pottery. The platforms and associated agricultural features are completely different in character from 'traditional' settlement types known in the area in the 19th-21st centuries. The sites were recognised in the late 1970's by one of the engineers on site, who showed them at the time to an archaeologist he knew, and to me around 1990.
Those platforms at or around the water surface level are clearly suffering some erosion, although surprisingly little since it has been going on for over 80 years. The number affected is increased by the very large seasonal fluctuations in the water level in the reservoir. This may be less of an issue in the UK.
It is to be presumed that there are more sites permanently below water, which will be covered with silt.
Unfortunately, the local archaeological authorities, when informed of these sites and shown some of the artefacts, expressed no interest whatever and told us to go away.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished