Sally Evans – Marine Heritage Consultant, Cotswold Archaeology and PhD student in marine resource use focused on cetacean exploitation (whales dolphins and porpoises)
I work as a Marine Heritage Consultant for Cotswold Archaeology. In this role I carry out research into marine and coastal heritage and provide advice on guidance, policy and legislation to enable understanding and effective management of heritage in the marine and coastal zones. I am also undertaking a PhD in archaeology at the University of Cardiff, specialising in past interactions with the sea focusing on marine resource use, and in particular cetacean exploitation. This research has direct implications for the conservation and management of cetacea in today’s oceans. An overarching strand of my work and research is the role of archaeology in the present and the interaction between marine and coastal archaeology and current conservation and management, of both cetacea and heritage.
I have just returned from the European Cetacean Conference, held this year in Funchal, Madeira, where I presented papers at the Changing values, uses and practices regarding marine mammals: from the Iron Age to early modern and contemporary times workshop, as part of the Oceans Past Platform, with funding from the European Co-operation in Science and Technology (E-COST). The Oceans Past Platform aims to integrate archaeological and historic evidence for marine exploitation into current strategies for marine and coastal management . Together with cetacean expert Dr Jacqui Mulville, I presented papers focusing on the use of zooarchaeological data in the modern whaling debate, and also presented the results of our pilot study using proteomics (the study of proteins) to analyse cetacean exploitation in the Iron Age and Norse period, on the Scottish Hebridean site of Bornais. The latter built on work we have carried out into cetacean identification in archaeological contexts (Evans et al. 2015). We will continue this research in 2016 with a grant we have just received from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Some of the challenges to understanding cetacean exploitation in the past stem from the difficulties identifying the remains of cetacea encountered on archaeological sites to species level. This hampers our ability as archaeologists to contribute to discussions on past cetacean exploitation, including when active whaling began, and thus when populations began to be altered by human intervention, with implications for marine management today. To continue our work the European Co-operation in Science and Technology granted Jacqui and I further funding to visit the University Museum of Bergen, to collaborate with marine zoologists in the formation of reference material for archaeological cetacean bone. This reference material is necessary to allow us to accurately interpret archaeological remains in order to build up a picture of the complexities of marine exploitation in the past and make important contributions to marine management and conservation in the present.
Now back in the UK I am continuing work researching and advising on marine and coastal heritage. At present our marine department at Cotswold Archaeology are working on a wide variety of projects, including desk-based research, diver surveys, geophysical surveys and formulation of mitigation strategies for a host of different organisations. We are currently conducting research into the archaeological remains of the Severn Estuary for Tidal Lagoon Cardiff, while also conducting work on behalf of Historic England, focusing on a series of significant wreck sites in English waters. We are also carrying out work for offshore wind energy clients, and for international interconnector schemes.
To find out more about our work, and the services we offer, please contact Sally Evans at sally.evans@cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
