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In a remarkable find, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a medieval village that had long been lost to history. This discovery emerged during pre-construction excavations related to an offshore wind farm project.
Announced on December 9 by Wessex Archaeology, the team revealed the unearthing of an Anglo-Saxon settlement near the present-day village of Friston in East Suffolk, England. This site had previously been unknown to historians and archaeologists alike.
The excavations were a collaborative effort with the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), providing a deeper insight into the region’s historical landscape.
The newly discovered settlement consisted of a “small community living in wooden longhouses,” according to officials involved in the project. These structures were not only residential but also served as social centers, complete with central hearths used for cooking and heating.
“These weren’t just living spaces … [They] also acted as social hubs, with a central hearth for cooking and keeping warm,” the press release said.
“Although the wooden buildings have long rotted away, the remains of post holes show they were substantial structures, up to 19 meters [62 feet] long by 6 meters [20 feet] wide.”
Pictures from the excavation show archaeologists holding some of the ancient artifacts that were uncovered, including flint tools and pottery fragments.
Some of the finds date before the Anglo-Saxons, including an arrowhead made between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago.
“Designed to cover long distances for hunting, [the arrowhead’s] sharpened edges and point are incredibly fragile and usually break in the ground, making this a rare find,” Wessex Archaeology said.
The excavation was carried out ahead of the development of East Anglia TWO and ONE North Projects, an offshore wind farm being built by ScottishPower Renewables, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Matthew Ginnever, senior project manager at MOLA-Wessex Archaeology, said the most interesting finds included medieval kilns and fragile, ancient flints that include arrowheads and an axe head.
“An exciting discovery for the team once the settlement began to emerge was that a modern public right of way is perfectly aligned with the early medieval buildings, suggesting the footpath has been in use since the Anglo-Saxon period — and possibly before,” Ginnever added.
The settlement was abandoned in the 1300s, though the cause is still unknown, the expert said.
“Excavations have been taking place at key points where there are onshore development areas, [like] substations,” said Ginnever.
“Our team will be exploring this during the post-excavation analysis phase of [the] work, and we hope to share more in the future.”
Researchers are slated to share more findings in a webinar on Jan. 23.
The latest discovery isn’t the first time that modern construction projects have yielded historical treasures in Europe.
Last year, archaeologists unearthed 1,000-year-old treasure at a construction site for a nuclear power plant in Suffolk.
More recently, Czech excavators found multiple military graves during highway construction, both linked to the Austro-Prussian wars.