Wessex Archaeology has unearthed numerous archaeological remains in Lincolnshire, UK, and the surrounding area as part of the onshore construction works for Ørsted’s Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm .
Post-excavation assessment and reporting are currently in process, with over 27,827 artifacts recovered weighing 569kg in total, along with approximately 8,000 liters of soil.
Key finds from the scheme include two human burials (medieval and Roman), animal bone, metalwork, quernstones, recovery of Bronze Age pottery, further Romano-British settlement activity, as well as two medieval/ early post-medieval salt production sites.
“Most people wouldn’t associate renewable energy sources with historical artefacts, but it just goes to show the variety of activities needed to build an offshore wind farm,” Bronagh Byrne , Environment and Consents Manager from Ørsted, said.
The archaeological excavation has been completed before cable installation. Archaeological monitoring during the excavation of the cable trench is ongoing and further monitoring will be carried out during reinstatement works in key areas, with monitoring fieldwork scheduled to be completed this year.
The results of the excavations will be published in due course providing an insight into how the landscape of this part of Lincolnshire has been utilized and transformed from prehistory through to the present day.
The Wessex Archaeology team has been working with Ørsted since August 2015, alongside staff from consultants Royal Haskoning DHV and contractors J. Murphy & Sons Limited. The work has included trial trenching, excavation, watching brief, earthwork survey and historic building recording during pre-construction and construction phases of the project.
The works have been monitored for three local planning authorities by archaeologists from North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council, as part of planning conditions.
“Large linear schemes like this can be challenging; we’ve had seventy people working on the scheme over two years with some pretty inclement weather at times,” Richard O’Neill , Project Manager from Wessex Archaeology, said.
Images: Wessex Archaeology