About SPLASHCOS

SPLASHCOS - Submerged Prehistoric Archaeology and Landscapes of the Continental Shelf - is COST Action TD0902, a European research network that operates under the COST scheme (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

COST Actions facilitate coordination of research activities and information gathering across national boundaries, aimed at stimulating new ideas and collaborations. Trans-Domain (TD) Actions are interdisciplinary networks spanning two COST Domains. SPLASHCOS falls under the Individuals, Societies, Cultures & Health Domain (ISCH) and Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM)

Funds are provided for meetings, workshops, training activities, and pulications. During the course of the Action we will collate and publicise information on a variety of topics, and develop ideas for new collaborative research programmes. The COST scheme does not provide the funds for these programmes, which have to be sought from other European funding schemes, or national funding agencies.

The main objectives of SPLASHCOS are to promote research on the investigation, interpretation and management of the drowned landscapes and prehistoric archaeology of the European continental shelf, stimulate the development of new interdisciplinary and international research proposals, and provide guidance to heritage professionals, government agencies, commercial organisations, policy makers and a wider public on the relevance of underwater research to a deeper understanding of European history, past palaeoclimate and sea-level change, and the social relevance and likely future impact of these changes.

The scope of SPLASHCOS extends to all European coastal waters, and in some cases beyond. The work of the Action is overseen by a Management Committee (MC), with up to two representatives from each participating country (currently 25 European States), which normally meets twice a year.

The detailed work is undertaken by four Working Groups (WG), comprising members of the MC, and additional members recruited for their particular scientific or geographical expertise. We are keen to hear from new members who think they have a useful contribution to make to the WGs, especially Early Stage Researchers (pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers within 8 years of their PhD). See the WG page for further details

Meetings and discussion forums are normally restricted to the Action membership, but workshops or conferences open to the wider community will be organised from time to time.