Medieval Dunwich: Britain's Atlantis Revealed

[Judi Lynn]

Medieval Dunwich: Britain's Atlantis Revealed
By News Staff | May 10th 2013 11:00 AM

Using advanced underwater imaging techniques, one of the most detailed analysis ever of the archaeological remains of the lost medieval town of Dunwich - 'Britain's Atlantis' - have been revealed.

The project has provided the most accurate map to date of the town's streets, boundaries and major buildings, and revealed new ruins on the seabed.

Present day Dunwich is a village 14 miles south of Lowestoft in Suffolk, but it was once a thriving port, similar in size to London of the period. Extreme storms forced coastal erosion and flooding that almost completely wiped out this once prosperous town over the past seven centuries.

The decline began in 1286 when a huge storm swept much of the settlement into the sea and silted up the Dunwich River. This storm was followed by a succession of others that silted up the harbor and squeezed the economic life out of the town, leading to its eventual demise as a major international port in the 15th Century. It now lies collapsed and in ruins in a watery grave, three to 10 meters below the surface of the sea, just off the coastline.

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More:
http://www.science20.com/news_articles/medieval_dunwich_britains_atlantis_revealed-111684

[Judi Lynn]

1. Dunwich: Lost Medieval Town, Britain’s Atlantis, Mapped by Scientists

Dunwich: Lost Medieval Town, Britain’s Atlantis, Mapped by Scientists

Ruins of thriving Suffolk port town swept into the sea by storm and coast erosion revealed on seabed

By Hannah Osborne: Subscribe to Hannah's RSS feed | May 10, 2013 4:54 PM GMT

The lost medieval town of Dunwich, dubbed Britain's Atlantis, has been mapped for the first time, showing streets, buildings and town boundaries.

David Sear, a professor at the University of Southampton, used Didson advanced underwater imaging techniques to analyse the medieval ruins on the seabed off the Suffolk coast.

He said: "Didson technology is rather like shining a torch on to the seabed, only using sound instead of light. The data produced helps us to not only see the ruins, but also understand more about how they interact with the tidal currents and seabed."

The images allowed Sear to produce the most accurate map to date of Dunwich, showing the town's eight churches, a large house possibly used as the town hall and street layouts.

More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/466720/20130510/britian-s-atlantis-dunwich-medieval-town-washed.htm