Archaeologists in Suffolk have uncovered the remains of a medieval village near the modern village of Friston in eastern England, revealing a long-lost Anglo-Saxon community and offering an extraordinary look at more than 6,000 years of human activity in East Anglia. The excavation—conducted by a team of ninety specialists from MOLA–Wessex Archaeology on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables—has exposed a sprawling ancient landscape covering over twenty-four hectares, roughly the size of seventeen football pitches.
The centrepiece of the discovery is a settlement dating from the early medieval period, consisting of seven or eight substantial wooden longhouses. Although the timber structures have not survived, archaeologists identified the layout through post holes marking buildings up to nineteen metres long and six metres wide. These longhouses served as both domestic spaces and social hubs, with central hearths for cooking and gathering.
Archaeologists excavate post holes and beam slots from Anglo-Saxon longhouses (c) MOLA-Wessex Archaeology
Near Friston, a village known to have early medieval origins, this community appears to have persisted for centuries before being abandoned sometime in the 1300s. Archaeologists will now work to determine when the settlement first emerged and what led to its decline—whether due to environmental change, shifting economic patterns, or demographic movement.
One remarkable detail suggests that traces of the village endured long after it disappeared: a modern public right of way directly aligns with the footprint of the medieval longhouses. This continuity implies that the path may have been used since Anglo-Saxon times, and possibly since prehistory.
A broader landscape: kilns, tools, and ancient industry
Archaeologists excavate the remains of a medieval kiln near Sizewell (c) MOLA-Wessex Archaeology
Along the East Anglian coast near Sizewell, the team uncovered multiple kilns dating from the later medieval period (1066–1537). These installations likely supported a local pottery or lime industry, adding evidence for rural manufacturing along the Suffolk coastline.
Although the medieval discoveries form the centrepiece of the project, the excavations have revealed a deep and continuous human presence in the region long before the Middle Ages. Archaeologists uncovered evidence of Stone Age toolmaking, including a finely crafted axe head used for woodworking and land clearance. One of the most remarkable objects found so far is a complete flint arrowhead dating to between 4000 and 6000 years ago. Its delicate form—typically too fragile to survive intact in the soil—marks it as an exceptionally rare discovery.
Matthew Ginnever, Senior Project Manager at MOLA–Wessex Archaeology, emphasised the scale and significance of the work. “The archaeological programme is already proving there is much to uncover about the history of East Anglia and its past populations,” he noted. “These sites were always rural, but they were by no means isolated. We’ve discovered pottery associated with the ‘Beaker folk’, who lived across Europe in the early Bronze Age and brought new cultures and ideas to Britain. This suggests locals were in contact and trading with groups on the continent more than 3000 years ago. We look forward to adding more details like this to the rich tapestry of East Anglia’s heritage as our work on the project continues.”
Preserving heritage while planning for the future
Anglo-Saxon brooch with a preliminary date of around the 6th century (c) MOLA-Wessex Archaeology
ScottishPower Renewables, which funded the excavation as part of the East Anglia TWO offshore wind project, highlighted the importance of integrating archaeological research into environmental development plans. Michael Hotze, the company’s Project Execution Director, said: “East Anglia TWO is about providing a cleaner, greener future for the region and the UK, but it’s doubly rewarding to be able to offer new insights into East Anglia’s history too.”
Analysis of the finds is ongoing, with specialists examining everything from the chronology of the medieval village to the broader prehistoric landscape. The public will have an opportunity to learn more about the project during a free online webinar hosted by MOLA–Wessex Archaeology on Friday, 23 January 2026.
Archaeologists in Suffolk have uncovered the remains of a medieval village near the modern village of Friston in eastern England, revealing a long-lost Anglo-Saxon community and offering an extraordinary look at more than 6,000 years of human activity in East Anglia. The excavation—conducted by a team of ninety specialists from MOLA–Wessex Archaeology on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables—has exposed a sprawling ancient landscape covering over twenty-four hectares, roughly the size of seventeen football pitches.
The centrepiece of the discovery is a settlement dating from the early medieval period, consisting of seven or eight substantial wooden longhouses. Although the timber structures have not survived, archaeologists identified the layout through post holes marking buildings up to nineteen metres long and six metres wide. These longhouses served as both domestic spaces and social hubs, with central hearths for cooking and gathering.
Near Friston, a village known to have early medieval origins, this community appears to have persisted for centuries before being abandoned sometime in the 1300s. Archaeologists will now work to determine when the settlement first emerged and what led to its decline—whether due to environmental change, shifting economic patterns, or demographic movement.
One remarkable detail suggests that traces of the village endured long after it disappeared: a modern public right of way directly aligns with the footprint of the medieval longhouses. This continuity implies that the path may have been used since Anglo-Saxon times, and possibly since prehistory.
A broader landscape: kilns, tools, and ancient industry
Along the East Anglian coast near Sizewell, the team uncovered multiple kilns dating from the later medieval period (1066–1537). These installations likely supported a local pottery or lime industry, adding evidence for rural manufacturing along the Suffolk coastline.
Although the medieval discoveries form the centrepiece of the project, the excavations have revealed a deep and continuous human presence in the region long before the Middle Ages. Archaeologists uncovered evidence of Stone Age toolmaking, including a finely crafted axe head used for woodworking and land clearance. One of the most remarkable objects found so far is a complete flint arrowhead dating to between 4000 and 6000 years ago. Its delicate form—typically too fragile to survive intact in the soil—marks it as an exceptionally rare discovery.
Matthew Ginnever, Senior Project Manager at MOLA–Wessex Archaeology, emphasised the scale and significance of the work. “The archaeological programme is already proving there is much to uncover about the history of East Anglia and its past populations,” he noted. “These sites were always rural, but they were by no means isolated. We’ve discovered pottery associated with the ‘Beaker folk’, who lived across Europe in the early Bronze Age and brought new cultures and ideas to Britain. This suggests locals were in contact and trading with groups on the continent more than 3000 years ago. We look forward to adding more details like this to the rich tapestry of East Anglia’s heritage as our work on the project continues.”
Preserving heritage while planning for the future
ScottishPower Renewables, which funded the excavation as part of the East Anglia TWO offshore wind project, highlighted the importance of integrating archaeological research into environmental development plans. Michael Hotze, the company’s Project Execution Director, said: “East Anglia TWO is about providing a cleaner, greener future for the region and the UK, but it’s doubly rewarding to be able to offer new insights into East Anglia’s history too.”
Analysis of the finds is ongoing, with specialists examining everything from the chronology of the medieval village to the broader prehistoric landscape. The public will have an opportunity to learn more about the project during a free online webinar hosted by MOLA–Wessex Archaeology on Friday, 23 January 2026.
Tickets can be booked here:
https://app.tickettailor.com/events/molamuseumoflondonarchaeology/1980900
Top Image: Millenia of human history discovered during East Anglia TWO excavations © MOLA-Wessex Archaeology
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