New approaches to mapping and managing palaeochannel resources in the light of future environmental change : a case study from the Trent Valley, UK

Stein, Samantha; Malone, Steve; Knight, David; Howard, Andy J.; Carey, Chris

Abstract

Abandoned river channels may provide rich primary sources of palaeoenvironmental and cultural information elucidating landscape evolution, climate change, vegetation history and human impact, especially since the beginning of the Holocene epoch. However, although potentially an important resource, palaeochannels are not often recorded systematically and only rarely enjoy robust statutory protection (in the UK as Sites of Special Scientific Interest). In consequence, it is challenging to mitigate and manage this important geoarchaeological resource effectively within the UK planning framework. Whilst palaeochannels have long been recognised on aerial photographs and historic maps, the advent of airborne laser scanning (Lidar) and other remote-sensing technologies has provided a hitherto unforeseen opportunity to record such landforms and related features at a catchment scale. This paper provides a case study from the Nottinghamshire reach of the Trent Valley, where a desk-based methodology that is now being extended across the entire catchment has been developed for recording, geospatially locating and defining the attributes of observed palaeochannels. After outlining the methodology, we consider how this approach to resource management can aid archaeological research and future heritage management, especially in the light of predicted climate and environmental change.

Citation

Stein, S., Malone, S., Knight, D., Howard, A. J., & Carey, C. (2017). New approaches to mapping and managing palaeochannel resources in the light of future environmental change : a case study from the Trent Valley, UK. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 8(2), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2017.1317086

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: May 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 30, 2018
• Journal: Historic Environment: Policy and Practice
• Print ISSN: 1756-7505
• Electronic ISSN: 1756-7513
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 113-124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2017.1317086