Looking back in time

Introduction


To find out how archaeologist look for evidence, go to ‘Finding the Evidence'

All maps are not the same. Maps of different ages and made for different reasons can be seen or downloaded on Maps page. How to be an Archaeologist? See Outdoor Action for some hints on delving deep into Harbour History.

If you need more information the Chichester Harbour Archaeology Research Framework document is now available, and can be downloaded as a series of pdf files. It forms a guide to existing knowledge and to future research. There are records from throughout the harbour, although evidence so far is concentrated on West Wittering, Fishbourne, Bosham and Broadbridge, Thorney, Warblington and Northney.

Handy Hints

When we talk about the past we use special language, these hints will help you to decode it!

“17th century” means from the year 1600 to the year 1699
“3rd century” means from the year 200 to 299.....
you get the idea, we are talking about the hundred years before the century name.

BC means “Before Christ”,
AD means “Anno Domini” (“the year of our Lord (Jesus)”).
We use a calendar which has Jesus Christ's Birth as the year 0.
BC counts back from the year 0, AD counts forward.

“Artefacts” and “finds” mean the physical evidence of the past such as tools, pots and parts of buildings. An artefact is any object used or made by humans.

We use evidence to try to work out how people used to live in the past. Experts have ideas based on this, but these ideas can change and not everyone agrees about what the evidence means.

The Stone Age was very, very, very, very long. It is divided into “Palaeolithic” - Old Stone Age, “Mesolithic” - Middle Stone Age, and “Neolithic” - New Stone Age.


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Chichester Harbour Conservancy Education
Harbour Office, Itchenor, Chichester, PO20 7AW.   Tel: 01243 512 301