NHER 66184 (Monument record) - Probable Early Iron Age cremation burial, potentially prehistoric enclosure and later ditches

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), 24 March 2026.

November 2021-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (Area 27).
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 eastern half of the site that appear to represent ditches forming at least one rectilinear enclosure. A number of discrete anomalies within these probable enclosures potentially represent pit-type features. An east-to-west aligned probable ditch crossing the central part of the site appears to mark the northern limit of these remains, although whether it was actually contemporary with the enclosure is uncertain. A north-west to south-east aligned linear anomaly at the southern end of the site corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Salle tithe map (S2).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P3TT16; Trenches 1146-1153).
The northernmost of the eight trenches excavated at this location revealed a small pit containing a notable quantity of Early Iron Age pottery and what appears to be calcined human bone – suggesting this feature likely represented the remains of an urned cremation burial. A smaller assemblage of Early Iron Age pottery was also recovered from a north-north-east to south-south-west ditch which the geophysical survey indicates formed the western side of a rectilinear enclosure. A sample from this feature produced charcoal and burnt flint. A substantial ditch likely to represent the southern side of this enclosure was also uncovered, although the dating evidence from this feature was more ambiguous – its primary fill producing a single Middle Bronze Age pottery sherd and two tiny medieval sherds recovered from its uppermost fill. Notably, a deposit adjacent to this ditch was interpreted as the possible remnants of an internal bank.
Other evidence for prehistoric activity at this location included a small assemblage of undatable prehistoric and Mesolithic to Neolithic worked flints found residual in later features and a single Early Bronze Age pottery sherd recovered from a probable colluvial deposits. Several small undiagnostic prehistoric pottery sherds were also recovered from an otherwise undated north-east to south-west aligned ditch at the northern end of the site.
Other features recorded included an east-to-west aligned ditch immediately to the north of the potentially prehistoric rectilinear enclosure that also corresponded with a geophysical anomaly. This feature produced a single fragment of medieval/post-medieval roof tile. A north-west to south-east aligned ditch at the southern end of the site was undated but can be seen to coincide with a former field boundary depicted on the Salle tithe map (S2).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 March 2026.