Archaeological features identified at Seaford Head site  

Seaford head cliffs - Credit: Chip Creative The hidden archaeological potential of nationally important heritage site Seaford Head has been uncovered through a project involving the UCL Institute of Archaeology. The pilot study involving researchers from Archaeology South-East (ASE), part of UCL Institute of Archaeology, aimed to investigate how an archaeological site at risk from climate change accelerated coastal erosion can be rapidly recorded and communicated to the public before it is lost. Located in East Sussex, Seaford Head - which includes an Iron Age hillfort and provides the iconic view of the Seven Sisters cliffs - has seen significant cliff collapses in recent years, and erosion is expected to increase in frequency and severity with predicted rises in rainfall and storm events related to climate change. The team identified several "anomalies" in the area, which researchers say could be archaeological features related to habitation within the Iron Age hill fort and the construction of a Bronze Age barrow - excavated by Pitt Rivers in the 19 Century. To establish their findings, researchers undertook a desk-based assessment, a geophysical survey, and a topographic and drone survey. The drones were used to take hundreds of photographs of the site, which were then rectified using photogrammetry into highly accurate images and a topographic model, augmented with handheld survey equipment. The drones enabled the researchers to photograph and record otherwise inaccessible or difficult to access places, allowing the team to identify the potential archaeological features in the roughly 80m high cliff section.