Cool Finds

Archaeologists Stumble Upon Mysterious Medieval Village While Preparing for New Wind Farms in England

The previously unknown settlement appears to have been abandoned at some point in the 1300s, but researchers don’t know why

Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent

January 14, 2026

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Archaeologists in England have discovered the remains of a previously unknown medieval settlement that appears to have been abandoned hundreds of years ago.

A team of 90 researchers with Wessex Archaeology and the Museum of London Archaeology unearthed the medieval village near Friston, a small town in East Suffolk roughly 100 miles northeast of London. They were excavating the area on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables, which is preparing to build two new offshore wind farms in the area.

Their dig has revealed an “entire ancient landscape” spanning nearly 60 acres, according to a recent announcement.

Researchers found the remains of postholes, which used to hold up wooden buildings as large as 62 feet long and 20 feet wide. The wooden longhouses were likely used for living and sleeping, but they also served as gathering hubs for the small community, with central hearths for cooking and staying warm. Residents appear to have abandoned the site in the 1300s.

Though the buildings themselves have rotted away, one element of the medieval village has endured to the present day. A modern footpath is “perfectly aligned” with the buildings, which hints at the possibility that the route has been in use for centuries, senior project manager Matthew Ginnever tells Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis.

The placement of the footpath was “an exciting discovery for the team once the settlement began to emerge,” he adds.

In addition to the remains of the village, researchers also unearthed numerous artifacts. They found Stone Age tools, including a “beautifully crafted” ax head that appears to have been used for woodworking, clearing land and, possibly, butchery.

They also turned up a complete flint arrowhead that dates to between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. The artifact may be tiny, but researchers were thrilled to find it, because flint arrowheads are very delicate and prone to breaking. Additionally, their work has uncovered fragments of pottery from the Beaker culture, known for making distinctive, bell-shaped pieces during the Bronze Age.

The team is also excavating another area that’s closer to the coast, near the modern-day community of Sizewell. At that site, researchers have unearthed medieval kilns, which were likely used to produce ceramics, pottery or lime.

“These sites were always rural, but they were by no means isolated,” says Ginnever in the statement.

The archaeologists may make additional discoveries as they continue their work. They have been tasked with excavating the entire onshore cable corridor for the projects, which stretches from the coast to a substation near Friston, as BBC News’ Lewis Adams reports.

Once they finish excavating, the archaeologists can turn their attention toward analyzing their finds. They hope to learn more about the medieval village, including when it was occupied and why it was abandoned.

“We hope to share more in the future,” Ginnever tells Fox News Digital.

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Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.