2017 was an exciting year along the Mersea shore.
In 2016, CITiZAN (Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeology Network)
visited the island and looked more deeply into some things
we thought we already knew about. About the same time local oystermen were making interesting finds and it became clear that there had been a lot of erosion recently. It had taken about two feet
off the mud along the shore - uncovering things that have not seen the light of day for
hundreds or even thousands of years.
CITiZAN were very interested in the area around East Mersea Tudor Blockhouse Fort, where new rows
of stakes had appeared in the mud. They have since been dated by CITiZAN as between 1461 and 1636 AD and probably in use at the same time as the fort. As they note, the Blockhouse Fort earthworks have been steadily eroding and may go completely in the not too distant future.
Mersea oysterman Daniel French was dredging off Coopers Beach, East Mersea and made some exciting finds in the mud. A skull proved to be Iron Age, dating 290 to 350 BC.
Wooden planks also found there seemed to form a board walk across the mud. They were recovered and have now been dated to 952 - 860 BC, Late Bronze Age. Over the next two years they went through a preservation process at Mary Rose Archaeological Services in Portsmouth, funded by Historic England.
CITiZAN joined Daniel French and several other Mersea people on the mud
for a weekend of low tides at the end of March 2017.
The most significant find was a 6ft Mammoth Tusk - it was too big to recover, and was buried again after close examination. The Natural History Museum took samples, and December 2018 reported that the tusk was thought to be 12,000 years old.
The finds have caused a lot of interest in Mersea and in a much wider community.
CITiZAN put on two well-attended talks in Mersea School in July to described the activities.
The boards completed the preservation process and returned to Mersea in May 2021.
The agreement with Historic England was that they would pay for the preservation of the boards if the Museum were going to display them. It was decided a large hole in the floor was the way to do it, with lighting and glass over the top. Yes, you can walk on it. A significant amount of money was needed, not helped by Coronavirus which pushed up some of the prices, but the Museum was very generously supported by local organisations, members, supporters, and a kind builder who decided he would not bill us for the work.
The boards are now on display in the Museum.
A reconstruction of the Iron Age skull - from BBC Countryfile Winter Diaries February 2017
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Daniel French on Anglia News
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Timbers of the boardwalk awaiting rescue. Photo from CITiZAN
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The CITiZAN team gently lifting timber 2. Photo from CITiZAN
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Washing timber 4 before sending off for dating and preservation - photo from CITiZAN
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Wrapping timber 3 before being sent off for analysis. Photo from CITiZAN.
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The stakes that have appeared to the east of the Blockhouse Fort at East Mersea. Some are over 1 metre high. Photo from CITiZAN
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A well defined path is now visible, out to the other stakes. Photograph taken 28 November 2017 by Robin Webster.
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The Mammoth Tusk - left to rest in the mud. Thought to be 12,000 years old.
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July 2018 the first board walk timber ready to go into the preservation tank in Portsmouth.
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May 2021 the Boards have returned to Mersea, ready for unpacking.
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31 May 2022 before the glass was fitted. The boards are oak, just under 8 feet or 2.5 metres long.
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To find out more
Bronze Age board walk - trackway across the foreshore
Bronze Age Mersea by Oliver Hutchinson
View 3D models of structures found at Mersea
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