Hornsea 3 archaeology study uncovers ancient Norfolk relics

A team of 40 archaeologists recently concluded an extensive two-year archaeological survey of the project’s onshore cable route from Weybourne to Stoke Holy Cross.

The archaeologists’ survey revealed remains from prehistoric, Roman and medieval times that help us better understand our history as we move to a future that runs on green energy.

A nationally significant infrastructure project

Hornsea 3, which will deliver enough green energy to power more than three million UK homes, will mark a huge step toward the UK’s energy transition.

After the renewable energy company Ørsted was granted a development consent order by the UK government for Hornsea 3, it hired Oxford Archaeology, an organisation that undertakes archaeological field work on behalf of developers, to conduct a thorough investigation of the onshore cable route.

From 2022 to 2024, the archaeologists conducted field studies – from geophysical surveys, which allow the archaeologists to map the land without disturbing the soil, to excavating more than 1,300 ‘trial trenches’ to investigate any anomalies that appeared in the geophysics study.

Thousands of years old

When archaeologists use the term “prehistoric”, they mean any period before recorded history, which in the UK is considered any time prior to the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43.

Patrick Moan, the head of field work at Oxford Archaeology, led the team for the Hornsea 3 investigation. He said the most “evocative site” they discovered was near Ringland Hills, on a hilltop overlooking the Wensum Valley.

“We believe it is early Neolithic (4000-2200 BC). So, we’re talking about thousands of years old,” said Patrick.

Some of the Oxford Archaeology team at the end of a day on site near Reepham (Image: Oxford Archaeology)

The monument consists of two ring-ditches surrounding a central pit. The ditches were filled with bits of pottery, flint and animal bones. The archaeologists are able to date the site by using radiocarbon dating, a scientific method that can accurately determine the age of organic material.

“Where it is in the landscape, the monument would have been visible from some distance,” Patrick said. We think it was used as some kind of meeting place, but more analysis needs to be done.”

The archaeologists also discovered evidence of two significant Roman sites and a dozen medieval sites that show life near current Norfolk villages.

None of the archaeologists’ findings in the field required the onshore cable path to be redesigned or the development to be stopped.

A final report detailing the archaeologists’ findings and their analysis of them is expected to be released to the public and keen historians by the end of 2025.

Providing ‘a sense of place’

As a student of ancient life, Patrick is grateful for the planning process that requires these archaeological studies.

Referring to the Neolithic monument, he said: “Without these nationally significant projects, such as Hornsea 3, we wouldn’t have known that was there at all.

“The only reason that we got the opportunity as archaeologists to excavate that, learn from it and report on it, is thanks to developments such as this happening.”

Patrick believes the wealth of information enriches local communities.

“This work being undertaken across all major, nationally significant developments provides so much valuable data to us as archaeologists, but it also provides a sense of place to local communities about what came before them.

“Even for people who’ve been in Norfolk all their lives, it adds colour to the landscape where they live.”

Ørsted will hold an information session with the Oxford Archaeology team from 1pm-6.30pm on November 21 at Cawston Village Hall.

For more information about Hornsea 3, please visit hornseaproject3.co.uk