Between 31 July and 29 September 2017 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out an archaeological excavation at Site 18, to the northeast of Little Bealings, Suffolk (Figs. 1-2), as part of the East Anglia ONE Offshore Windfarm (Onshore Works), Suffolk. The site was designated Site 18 for the purposes of archaeological recording in advance of cable trenching for the East Anglia One project. Excavation encountered three phases of activity at the site. The first phase dates to the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age (c.1300-400 BC) and is represented by a limited number of ditches, pits and postholes; a clusters of larger postholes probably being the remains of a building (possibly a domestic house). The second phase dates to the late Romano-British period (c.mid-3rd to 4th century AD) and comprised the edge of a rural settlement/farm. Features included a regularly laid-out (coaxial) system of parallel ditches oriented southwest-northeast. Between the ditches were a large rectangular post-built structure and two corn-drying ovens, as well as clusters of other postholes and pits probably related to agricultural activities. The third phase of occupation at Site 18 dates to the Early Anglo-Saxon period (c.5-7th century AD), and comprised the remains of at least ten, possibly eleven structures, including both Sunken Featured Buildings and a large (partially sunken) 'Hall' structure. The different sizes, architectural forms, and finds assemblages from the structures suggests different uses and functions, including one with good evidence of on-site metalworking. Their spatial arrangement strongly suggests either continuity of site use from the late Romano-British occupation, or the re-use of a short-abandoned site; one of the middle posts in the large Romano-British aislebuilding appears to be have been re-placed in the Early Anglo-Saxon period, suggesting continued (re-)use of this building.
Lloyd-Smith et al. (Tue,) studied this question.