NHER 66314 (Monument record) - Possible Bronze Age round barrows and other, undated and post-medieval remains

February-March 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on possible route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (GS12). This site was one of 26 identified as a priority for examination due to their archaeological potential.
The most notable responses are two probable ring-ditches, one at TG 1245 1728 and one at TG 1265 1697 – both of which correspond with previously recorded cropmark features thought to represent the remains of Bronze Age barrows (NHERs 50621 and 21719 respectively). These are part of a group of five cropmark ring-ditches recorded at this location, suggesting the presence of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery (NHER 50649). There is though no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the two other cropmark ring-ditches that fall within the area examined (NHER 17657 at TG12441709 and NHER 50647 at TG 1262 1696). A weak sub-circular anomaly recorded in the south-east corner of the site at TG 1268 1695 may though represent the remains of another, previously unidentified barrow.
The survey also identified numerous discrete anomalies and several linear anomalies in the southernmost and easternmost parts of the site that also potentially represent archaeologically-significant remains. Several of the linear anomalies correspond with previously recorded cropmarks (part of a group of possible post-medieval boundaries recorded as NHER 50648). There was though no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a group of fragmentary cropmarks recorded to the west (NHER 50663). There was also no trace of a small square enclosure mapped at TG 1244 1708 (NHER 50650).
Several straighter, roughly north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies appear to correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Morton on the Hill tithe map (S1) and the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). It is possible that several other, similarly aligned linear anomalies represent ditches of a broadly similar date.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.

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 (S3).
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable (P1TT13; Trenches 70-75).
The five trenches excavated at tis location revealed a number of north-east to south-west aligned ditches, none of which produced any firm dating evidence. The most notable were an adjacent pair of features exposed in the southernmost trench, one of which corresponds with a sinuous linear cropmark that had also been identified by preceding geophysical survey (part of the group recorded as NHER 50648). A sample taken from one of its fills produced a small amount of burnt flint but little else of interest.
Three intercutting ditches recorded in a trench to the north correspond with a geophysical anomaly and one of the former field boundaries depicted on the 19th-century maps. Two similarly-aligned, adjacent ditches uncovered in the northernmost trench also correspond with geophysical anomalies. One produced a small amount of animal bone and the other a residual worked flint of likely Late Mesolithic/Earl Neolithic date.
A trench placed to coincide with several fragmentary linear cropmarks (part of a group of undated features recorded as NHER 50663) revealed no associated remains.
It should be noted that none of the trenches excavated coincided with the concentration of linear and discrete geophysical anomalies recorded in the south-east part of the site (which will fall outside of the scheme's likely corridor).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.