‘Britain’s Atlantis’ sank into the sea due to climate change

February 21, 2016

‘Britain’s Atlantis’ sank into the sea due to climate change

by Susanna Pilny


Researchers have found proof that Dunwich, England—otherwise known as “Britain’s Atlantis”—sank thanks to a series of storms that came with the advent of the Little Ice Age. (Not to be confused with the newly-discovered Late Antique Little Ice Age that helped bring about the downfall of the eastern Roman Empire.)

According to historical records, the port city of Dunwich—which was the 10th largest town in 11th century England, nearly comparable in size to 14th century London—was pummeled by multiple storms in the 13th and 14th centuries.

"They were like the south coast storms of 2013-14, at least once a year for decades," Professor David Sear, of the University of Southampton, told BBC.

Eventually, these storms ruined Dunwich’s harbor to the point that locals gave up trying to use it—and then swallowed the majority of the town under the sea, leaving it roughly 11 to 33 feet (3 to 10 meters) below the surface. It is now the world’s largest medieval underwater site.

Archaeologists have spent the last three years exploring Dunwich underwater, thanks to a $1.3 million (£900,000) grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and already have made some marvelous discoveries using advanced underwater imaging techniques—including the watery remains of eight churches, what is thought to be a tollhouse, and an encircling defensive earthwork which appears to date back to the Iron Age (roughly between 800 BCE to 100 CE).

Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113412709/real-atlantis-of-britain-sunk-into-the-sea-due-to-climate-change-022116/#mAlsqKeE0P5HA1oL.99