MAPPING THE ARCHEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF THE ROTTERDAM HARBOR AREA (THE NETHERLANDS), USING MARINE GEOPHYSICS IN A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER STUDY.

The Port of Rotterdam (PoR) is expanding the ‘Maasvlakte’ harbor on reclaimed land. In order to connect this new land with the old harbor a deep channel (‘Yangtze Harbor’) will be dredged to a depth of 20 meters below sealevel. Previous work revealed a deltaic landscape with Late Paleolithic and Early Mesolithic archeological artifacts at depths of 17-20 meters. Prior to the dredging the archeological potential of the site had to be investigated. In order to obtain a scientific and economical justifiable approach, fitting within the limited time frame, all concerned parties worked in close collaboration: - Harbor authorities (PoR) - Cultural Heritage Agency/Authority (RCE) - The engineering company (PUMA) - Geological and archaeological research institutions Deltares, BOOR and ADC