NHER 65215 (Monument record) - Potentially Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age, post-medieval and undated features

May 2018. Desk-based Assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm on the historic environment. This study incorporated the results of an initial walkover survey and the first phases of geophysical survey.
See relevant chapter of Environmental Statement and associated appendices for further detail (S1).
P. Watkins (HES), 18 July 2023.

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F34).
This survey revealed nothing of obvious archaeological significance.
A number of linear trends were identified, one of which corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Easton tithe map (S2).
Two large discrete areas of magnetic disturbance in the central part of the site are thought to potentially represent former quarry pits.
A number of more irregular linear trends and a band of discrete areas of magnetic disturbance at the western end of the field are all thought to represent variations in the underlying geology.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the field and scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
There was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a number of linear cropmarks mapped in the south-western part of the field (part of an extensive group of fragmentary cropmarks recorded as NHER 53628).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 August 2021.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 45; Trenches 522-537).
The 16 trenches excavated at this location revealed little of archaeological interest. Only three undated features were identified, all of which lay at the eastern end of the site. These included a north-east to south-west aligned ditch that was parallel with the adjacent field boundary. This feature potentially corresponded with one of the previously identified geophysical anomalies.
There was again no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a number of fragmentary cropmarks recorded in the south-western part of the field (part of the group recorded as NHER 53628).
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 August 2021. Amended 8 December 2022.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 54).
This survey of an area at the eastern end of the site revealed no responses of obvious archaeological significance. A north-to-south aligned linear anomaly corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Easton tithe map (S2).
A single discrete anomaly is regarded as being of undetermined origin and may therefore represent a pit-type feature, although a natural origin is perhaps more likely.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 July 2023.

January-February 2022. Excavation.
Excavation of relatively small area at eastern end of site prior to installation of new electrical substation and associated infrastructure (Area 1).
This work exposed a diffuse cluster of discrete features, a number of which produced small quantities of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery. Several of these features were identified as potentially representing deliberately dug pits or post-holes but the majority were thought to be natural in origin. Other finds from this group of features included a small amount of animal bone, fragments of fired clay and a single piece of undiagnostic iron slag. Crumbs of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery were also recovered from a nearby pair of intercutting north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches, along with a reasonably large assemblage of fired clay. A sample from the fill of one of these ditches produced little in the way of charred plant macrofossils or other debris. Although most of the fired clay consists of undiagnostic fragments, a number of the pieces retain smooth, flat surfaces, suggesting that may derived from pedestal or brick-type objects.
The site also produced a small assemblage of prehistoric worked flints, although the majority consist of undiagnostic flakes.
Other features of note included an undated north-north-west to south-south-east ditch and a large natural hollow. The latter produced a small number of abraded Late Saxon, early medieval and high medieval pottery sherds and a single fragment of fired clay. A sample from one of its fills produced fragments of charcoal and a small number of carbonised cereal grains and seeds. Samples were taken for palynology but pollen proved to be poorly preserved.
See report (S4) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.7).
P. Watkins (HES), 19 March 2025.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P2TT63; Trenches 621‐628).
This phase of work saw the excavation of eight trenches at the eastern end of the site.
Only a single north-to-south aligned plough furrow was recorded.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 July 2023.