Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a long-lost Anglo-Saxon village in Friston, England, during pre-construction excavations for an offshore wind farm. The discovery, announced by Wessex Archaeology on December 9, 2023, reveals a settlement that dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and features wooden longhouses along with various artifacts, including flint tools and pottery fragments.
The excavation work was conducted in collaboration with the Museum of London Archaeology as part of the preparatory efforts for the East Anglia TWO and ONE North Projects, an offshore wind installation being developed by ScottishPower Renewables. According to the findings, the settlement comprised a small community living in substantial wooden longhouses, which are believed to have served as both living spaces and social hubs.
Matthew Ginnever, senior project manager at MOLA-Wessex Archaeology, explained, “These buildings weren’t just living spaces; they also acted as social hubs, with a central hearth for cooking and keeping warm.” Although the wooden structures have decayed over time, the remains of post holes indicate their considerable size, measuring up to 19 meters long by 6 meters wide.
In addition to the longhouses, the excavation yielded remarkable artifacts, including an ancient arrowhead estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,000 years old. Ginnever highlighted the rarity of this find, stating, “Designed to cover long distances for hunting, sharpened edges and point are incredibly fragile and usually break in the ground, making this a rare find.”
The village appears to have been abandoned in the 1300s, although the reasons for this remain unclear. Excavations continue at critical points related to onshore development areas, including substations. Ginnever noted that the public right of way in the area aligns perfectly with the early medieval buildings, suggesting that the footpath may have been in use since the Anglo-Saxon period or even earlier.
Excavation teams are currently in the post-excavation analysis phase, with plans to share additional findings in an upcoming webinar scheduled for January 23, 2024. This discovery adds to a growing list of significant archaeological finds linked to modern construction projects in Europe.
Last year, for instance, archaeologists uncovered a trove of 1,000-year-old treasure at a site for a nuclear power plant in Suffolk. Similarly, Czech excavators recently discovered multiple military graves associated with the Austro-Prussian wars during highway construction.
As the excavation continues, the insights gained from this Anglo-Saxon village will contribute to a deeper understanding of life in medieval England, showcasing how contemporary development can unearth invaluable pieces of history.
