Timbers not boats

The County Archeologist tells me that the timbers found on the marsh in Trench 79 are definitely not a boat. Oxford Archaeology are recording the exposed wood and surrounding deposits and taking samples for Carbon 14 dating – which is excellent news. The wood in question sits below the top of the silt layer and this suggests to me that it must have arrived there before the Combe Haven was closed to the sea (1294) making the wood either Norman, Roman or part of the Bronze Age settlements referred to in my book – confirming the major importance of this valley in heritage terms. If the timbers are not part of  a boat they must form part of a causeway or settlement that entered the marsh like at Shinewater  down the coast. The answer will of course be confirmed by the date. The location is directly opposite Bynes Farm Boomery site (within only 300 yds) which may explain why Roman may also be on the map of possibilities. Proper archaeology standing on this road route that should not be built over. If they are prepared to build over this sort of archaeology they will build over anything.