An Abandoned Cliff in Weald Clay, near Lympne, Kent, England.
Abstract
The report describes a detailed surface and sub-surface investigation of an abandoned cliff in Weald Clay. Marine erosion was active at its foot about 5000 years ago, towards the end of the Flandrian transgression. This formed a steep cliff in the Weald Clay. Subsequent slope development has consisted chiefly of colluvium from the higher slopes moving down, spilling over this cliff and eventually burying it. The toe of debris thus formed now extends about 130m seaward across the old wavecut platform and its associated littoral and alluvial deposits. The upper, degradation zone, and lower, accumulation zone, of the abandoned cliff are now of approximately equal inclination, at 9 deg, although the degradation zone is naturally more hummocky. This indicates that the slope has essentially reached its angle of ultimate stability. This is borne out by the present, rather stable, condition of the slopes. Valuable data concerning the condition of the slope about 1700 years ago are provided by the associated investigations of the ruined Roman fort, which occupies the central and lower parts of the abandoned cliff. These indicate that the fort was disrupted by a major slide in the accumulation zone, possibly triggered by human activity, in the early post-Roman period.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA144040
Entities
People
- J. N. Hutchinson
Organizations
- Imperial College London