Discover Doggerland at The Cut Halesworth

Discover Doggerland, the drowned world under the North Sea, at The Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk on Saturday, November 7, 10am to 3.30pm. The event organised by Waveney & Blyth Arts features science, myth, art and stories and a presentation from ‘Mr Doggerland’, Professor Vincent Gaffney, ‘Not drowning but waving – Doggerland past, present and future.’

Tickets cost £15 (£10 for Waveney & Blyth Arts Members) from 0845 673 2123 or www.newcut.org. The event is supported by Touching the Tide and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The notion of being an island race is a significant part of our cultural identity, but only 8,000 years ago our ancestors could walk to The Netherlands. What is now the North Sea was a vast low-lying plain, which contained settled populations, until they were forced out by the rising sea.  

Melinda Appleby, project co-ordinator explains: “The Discover Doggerland day could not be more timely. It takes place just a few weeks after a multi-million pound research project into the area was announced. Research scientists from several universities are collaborating using 4D technology to explore the landforms under the North Sea and gain an understanding of how the land was colonised and used by Mesolithic people.”

“Professor Vincent Gaffney has kindly agreed to come down from Bradford to explain his research and give an insight into Doggerland. We are very lucky that he can find the time to join us, as he has also been involved in the recent discoveries at super-Stonehenge.”

Covehithe Treescape - Jeremy Webb

Tim Holt-Wilson will talk about Doggerland, a mythic geography, exploring links between environmental history and the imagination and, in a collaboration between arts and science, the day will also include work by eight artists who were challenged to explore and respond to the concept of this drowned world. The artists are Maggie Campbell, maker/sculptor, Sian Croose voice artist, Debra Hyatt filmmaker, Jayne Ivimey visual artist, Samia Malik singer/painter, Paul Osborne ceramicist, Stephen Watts writer and Jeremy Webb photographer.