Frank Swain is a science writer and blogger. He is based in the UK.
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Keep up to date with RSSI'm reading the award-winning Decoding the Heavens at the moment, so what better time to discover the Smithsonian website has an excellent article on underwater archaeology?
Beneath the slate-gray surface of the North Sea, about a half-mile off England's east coast, lies the underwater town of Dunwich. Crabs and lobsters skitter along the streets where some 3,000 people walked during the town's heyday in the Middle Ages. Fish dart through the sea sponge-ridden ruins of its churches, now partially buried in the seabed some 30 feet down.
Erosion--caused by the North Sea's relentless pounding of England's east coast--had all but consumed Dunwich (pronounced DUN-ich) by 1750. And the sea's silty, cold waters made visibility almost nonexistent for the intrepid few who wanted to explore the medieval ruins.
Until now.
You can read the whole article here.
(*Also, an interesting quirk: some javascript on the Smithsonian website automatically appends the source URL to your clipboard when you copy text. All websites should have this.)
Comments
...and then when you follow the link it highlights the text that has been copied and pasted!!
Posted by: prion | November 4, 2009 11:38 PM
That was fascinating, but now all I can think about is the Dunwich Horror. Perhaps Yog Sothoth came for the town?
Posted by: Simon | November 4, 2009 11:38 PM
"Perhaps Yog Sothoth came for the town?"
More like Dagon... I wonder if Lovecraft knew about this?
Posted by: Dunc | November 5, 2009 10:10 AM
The loss of Dunwich is an interesting story, but it isn't over yet, erosion is still a major issue along that part of the East Anglian coast...with plenty of arguments over which pieces of land should be defended and which abandoned to the waves.
It's not all doom and gloom though, the charming little town of Southwold nearby is IMHO one of Englands best seaside resorts, while the nature reserves of Dunwich Heath (National Trust) and Minsmere (RSPB) are excellent places for a walk, especially if you enjoy birdwatching as I do. Southwold is also where they brew Adnams beer... 'nuff said!
Posted by: Paul Browne | November 5, 2009 2:21 PM