NHER 66129 (Monument record) - Potentially Roman ditches, World War Two anti-tank ditch and other, undated remains

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 October 2022.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 2001).
This survey identified a broad, north-west to south-east aligned linear anomaly at the northern end of the site that continued into the field to the north (NHER 66128). Although recorded as being of undetermined origin it almost certainly represents the infilled remains of a World War Two anti-tank ditch that encircled Weybourne Camp (NHER 11335). The position of this feature has been mapped from aerial photographs and its recorded line clearly coincides with the geophysical anomaly.
A number of scattered, weak, fragmentary linear anomalies were the only other potentially archaeologically-significant responses. The majority of the other linear and discrete anomalies recorded were deemed to either natural or agricultural in origin.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 October 2022.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P3TT01; Trenches 986, 988-993 and 995-999).
The 12 trenches excavated at this location revealed five ditches and two pits.
Only one ditch contained any dating evidence – a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature at TG 0964 4339 which produced 12 sherds of Roman pottery. Two nearby, roughly perpendicular ditches were though potentially contemporary. An intercut pair of north-to-south aligned ditches to the south were probably associated with a separate phase of activity.
One of the two pits identified lay close to the potentially Roman ditches. A sample taken from the fill of this feature produced a small assemblage of cereal grains (some identifiable as barley), along with pottery of unspecified type, burnt flint and flint debitage.
The second pit lay approximately 200m to the south of the other features identified. A sample from its dark, blackish fill contained a large quantity of burnt flint, along with charcoal fragments and a small quantity of goosefoots.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 October 2022.