| Title: |
Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farms Geoarchaeological and archaeological monitoring |
| Series: |
Wessex Archaeology unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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wessexar1-515067_210725.pdf (4 MB)
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by Norfolk Vanguard Ltd and Norfolk Boreas Ltd to undertake a programme of geoarchaeological and archaeological monitoring of further engineering-led Site Investigation (SI) works along the route of the Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas Onshore Cable Routes (including proposed landfall and substation sites). SI works (cable percussion boreholes, cone penetration tests and trial pits) were undertaken at locations across the onshore project area. The SI works were an engineering-led program involving (geo)archaeological collaboration with the engineers. Where possible, SI interventions were located away from known areas of high archaeological potential. However, the Happisburgh Landfall boreholes are near to Happisburgh 1, an internationally significant Lower Palaeolithic site (Lewis et al. 2019). All Happisburgh Landfall cable percussion boreholes were subject to permanent geoarchaeological monitoring. Possible early Middle Pleistocene (MIS 13; 524–478 Ka) alluvial deposits were identified in two boreholes at the Happisburgh Landfall. These are overlain by Anglian glaciogenic deposits of the Happisburgh Formation (MIS 12; 478-424 Ka) and underlain by likely marine sands of the Wroxham Crag (2.4->0.6 MA). The possible alluvial deposits may be the stratigraphic equivalent to the upper grey sand and organic mud of the Low Lighthouse Member of the Cromer Forest Bed Formation (CF-bF) at Happisburgh 1, which have produced internationally significant Lower Palaeolithic archaeology and paleoenvironmental evidence (Lewis et al. 2019). Intact UT100 and disturbed bulk samples were recovered from the possible alluvial deposits and underlying, likely marine, sands. Stage 3 palaeoenvironmental assessment of samples from the Happisburgh Landfall is recommended. This will enable the presence/absence of CF-bF deposits to be established and their palaeoenvironmental potential to be assessed. Assessment should include samples taken from postulated marine sands of the Wroxham Crag in order to clearly define the stratigraphic separation between marine sands of the Wroxham Crag, and potential alluvial deposits of the CF-bF. Based on the results of the Stage 3 assessment, further targeted geoarchaeological boreholes may be required to map deposits of the CF-bF and to take further palaeoenvironmental samples. Anglian glaciogenic deposits are present across the proposed cable routes. These have generally low geoarchaeological and archaeological potential. No further geoarchaeological or archaeological investigations of these deposits are likely to be required. Upper Pleistocene terrace deposits of the River Wensum were identified in an SI trial pit at Elsing Lane. Review of broadly equivalent deposits in the area suggests that these river terrace deposits may include sediments of Ipswichian (MIS 5e; 123-111 kya) and Devensian (MIS 5d-2; 111-11.7 Kya) date. These deposits have the potential to include units which preserve significant palaeoenvironmental data (pollen, plant macro-fossils, non-marine molluscs and vertebrate remains) and Palaeolithic archaeology. Full and further specialist review of the results of and reports from the previous phases of engineering-led SI for the Projects is recommended to better understand and establish the level of this potential. This should be supplemented by consideration of results of archaeological evaluation trial trenching undertaken by Headland Archaeology in 2020/21; although restricted in their depth, c. 20-25 archaeological trial trenches were undertaken in the wider vicinity of the River Wensum. It is anticipated that construction related HDD pits either side of the Wensum may also form a later focus and provide a potential opportunity to assess Pleistocene deposits at this location. |
| Author: |
Alex Brown
Andrew D Shaw
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| Publisher: |
Wessex Archaeology
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| Other Person/Org: |
Norfolk HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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| Year of Publication: |
2021
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| Locations: |
| Country: |
England |
| District: |
North Norfolk |
| Parish: |
Happisburgh |
| County: |
Norfolk |
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Grid Reference: 638889, 330424 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
wessexar1-515067 |
| Report id: |
114845.4 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
20 Oct 2023 |
