Thursday 3rd September 2026 – Dr Dan Atkinson, Marine Archaeologist. Holy Trinity (All talks held at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm)
The coast of the Lothians and the F irth of Forth is the setting for hundreds of shipwreck events. From prehistory to the present day, the remains of vessels lost due to natural storm events, conflict, or human error are well represented in the archaeological and built heritage record. This talk presents just some of the evidence for these archaeological treasures from prehistory to recent times; located off the coast, along the foreshore, and incorporated into our built heritage.
About Dan Atkinson
Head of Coastal, Marine and Inland Waters
Dan has over 25 years professional archaeological experience, working throughout Ireland, the UK and further afield.
The former Director of Scotland and Coastal & Marine with Wessex Archaeology, Dan is now the Head of Coastal, Marine and Inland Waters for AMS. This role includes providing consultancy advice and specialist services for all manner of heritage projects across freshwater, coastal, inter-tidal, and marine environments.
Dan has a proven track record in project management and effective delivery of a broad portfolio of projects, working in collaboration with clients, partners, and stakeholders, and delivering to the highest standards. Past projects cross several sectors including renewable energy, ports & harbours, capital dredging, flood alleviation and coastal protection, aggregates extraction, energy transmission (marine cables and interconnectors, onshore grid connection), oil and gas, defence, and national and regional heritage bodies and museums.
Dan is a former Co-Chair of the Marine and Maritime Panel of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF), charged with developing a long-term and sustainable research agenda for marine and maritime archaeology in Scotland; Convenor of the Maritime Taskforce for the Built Environment Forum for Scotland (BEFS); and a former committee member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Council and Maritime Affairs Group (CIfA MAG).
He has presented numerous papers at conferences and trades events on a variety of topics, including the consideration of the marine historic environment in offshore renewable development.