PROBLEMS, POTENTIAL AND PARTIAL SOLUTIONS - AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TIDAL THAMES, ENGLAND

This paper considers some of the circumstances associated with the arc haeological study of the Thames river system in south-east England. It focuses on work related to the 95km reach of the river below Teddingt on, examining Holocene archaeological issues in the flood-plain, on th e urban waterfront and on the foreshore. Plotting the complex developm ent dynamics of the river system itself, over a 10,000-year period, an d the correlation of that information with an understanding of the cha nges in the patterns of settlement. encroachment and exploitation call s for an integrated multi-agency, multidisciplinary approach if furthe r progress is to be made.