Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandArdsGreyabbey bay. submerged woodland
PREHISTORIC · SUBMERGED WOODLAND

Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland

Ards, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 13570
Period
PREHISTORIC
Site type
SUBMERGED WOODLAND
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Greyabbey Bay is a prehistoric submerged woodland site located in Ards, County Down, Northern Ireland. The woodland remains, preserved beneath the modern bay floor, date to the Mesolithic or early Neolithic period and represent a valuable record of post-glacial vegetation and environmental conditions in the region. The submerged trees and associated organic deposits were exposed through coastal erosion and survey work, providing evidence of the landscape that existed before rising sea levels following the last ice age. Such submerged woodlands are significant archaeological features, offering insights into prehistoric settlement patterns, climate change, and the exploitation of natural resources by early inhabitants of the Irish coast.

Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 13570. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland?

Greyabbey Bay is a prehistoric submerged woodland site located in Ards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 13570.

What period does Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland date from?

Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a submerged woodland. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland?

Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 13570.

What other scheduled monuments are near Greyabbey bay. submerged woodland?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Kelp grid (2 km), Kircubbin harbour. quay, slipway and mooring (4.2 km), Stone fish trap (5.1 km).

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