Foraminifera and ostracods recovered from boreholes and excavations in the town centre allow patterns of sedimentation to be identified and linked to archaeological finds such as the Dover Bronze Age Boat and Roman harbour installations. Radiocarbon dating, and archaeological spot-dating provides a chronological framework for these changes. In particular the later Prehistoric environments and their transformation to estuarine environments by the time of Roman activity in the area are examined (including the role of sea level change and coastal erosion). The history of sedimentation within the Roman harbour and the role played by human activity in accelerating sedimentation in the old valley mouth is also considered. Finally dune formation across former estuarine habitats is documented in the Anglo-Saxon period creating the topographic template on which the modern town is based.