NHER 65216 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric enclosure 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 July 2023.

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F39).
This survey identified a group of north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies in the western half of the field that appear to represent three sides of a rectilinear enclosure. A west-north-west to east-south-east aligned anomaly extending westwards from its north-west corner probably represents a contemporary ditch. A continuation of this feature was identified by the survey of the field to the west (Area F38; NHER 62514). The orientations of these features suggest that they probably significantly predate the field system present by the late post-medieval period.
A number of other linear anomalies were probably the result of recent agricultural activity.
A large discrete area of magnetic disturbance recorded in the centre of the field is likely to represent an infilled former quarry pit.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the site and scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 47 (west); Trenches 589, 591-596 and 598-600).
A number of the 10 trenches excavated at this location were positioned to investigate the previously identified enclosure. All of the linear geophysical anomalies were found to have associated ditches and there was no evidence to suggest these remains were significantly more extensive than indicated by this survey. It appears likely that the enclosure was either open on its eastern side or that this portion of its circuit was formed by something other than a ditch. Two post-holes were the only features recorded within the interior of the enclosure. Dating evidence was limited, with the enclosure ditches themselves producing only a number of worked flints and fragments of animal bone. The flint assemblage does however include a small group of Bronze Age/Iron Age flakes, which may indicate the date of the enclosure, particularly as the potentially related ditch extending from its north-west corner was found to contain several sherds of possible Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery. A single sample taken from a deposit within one of the enclosure ditches (interpreted as possible collapsed bank material) was found to contain highly fragmented charcoal but little else in the way of charred plant macrofossils.
Other features of note included a small pit immediately to the east of the enclosure that produced two sherds of possible Late Iron Age pottery.
A north-to-south aligned ditch recorded in the eastern half of the site were undated but most likely associated with a much more recent phase of activity.
A large quarry pit was also identified, which coincided with the large area of magnetic disturbance recorded by the geophysical survey.
See report (S2) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022. 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 5301).
This survey of the eastern half of the site revealed nothing of obvious archaeological significance. The only responses of note were a north-north-west to south-south-east aligned linear anomaly and a small curvilinear anomaly at its northern end. Both potentially represent archaeological remains, although a natural origin is just as likely.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 July 2023.