Poole Harbour: current understanding of the later prehistoric to medieval archaeology and future directions for research.

Poole Harbour and its hinterland comprises a significant area of Dorset both spatially and in terms of influence. It contains numerous archaeological sites of various dates and types. Whilst the area has attracted a considerable amount of research in the last 50 years, information regarding the archaeology of the Poole Harbour basin occurs in disparate locations. This paper summarises and provides a synthesis of the current state of knowledge of the later prehistoric, Romano-British and medieval period. It then identifies threats to the archaeological resource of the area, identifies further research potential which can address local regional and national questions, and suggests future research priorities.