Sizewell C
Start Date
September 2022 - Ongoing
Location
Suffolk
Time Period
Bronze Age,
Iron Age,
Medieval,
Neolithic,
Post Medieval,
Roman,
Saxon,
Word War II,
Client
EDF,
In advance of Sizewell C’s construction, Oxford Cotswold Archaeology has been working on one of the largest archaeological projects ever undertaken in the east of England, to uncover the millennia long history of human occupation in the area.
Sizewell C, a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes, will come on line in the 2030s. The areas for archaeological intervention extend well beyond the actual location of the power station to include enabling works, such as a park and ride, new road and rail routes, and temporary accommodation sites for construction workers.
OCA started work in autumn 2022 and will be excavating over 70 sites through 2024 and beyond. We have already unearthed a fascinating glimpse into life along the Suffolk coast with evidence of prehistoric occupation in the Bronze Age, Roman salt production and the remains of numerous medieval ovens and structures. As the project progresses we are excited to share our findings about the lives of the people who made this very special part of Suffolk their home in the past.
Video: the OCA team excavating at Sizewell C
Sites
Wetland Habitat Creation
This site was a tidal saltmarsh which would have been an important resource for hunting and foraging, livestock grazing and salt manufacture from the prehistoric period onwards…
North of Lovers Lane
This site shows significant evidence of early Neolithic occupation. In the Middle Anglo-Saxon period, a new phase of occupation began, marking he beginning of 700 years of continuous medieval settlement in the area…
Wickham Market
Excavations near Wickham Market run alongside the route of a Roman road and have uncovered incredible insights into Roman life on the edge of urban settlements…
Two Village Bypass
Excavations along the Two Village Bypass revealed a Bronze Age barrow, medieval buildings and roads, and post-medieval quarrying, evidencing thousands of years of changing landscape use and infrastructure…
East of Eastlands, Leiston
Archaeological findings from LEEIE have provided evidence of a previously unknown Anglo-Saxon village…
Goose Hill
Goose Hill’s costal location makes it an ideal location for activity such as salt production during the Roman period and coastal defence during WWII…
Sizewell Link Road, Yoxford
Here, our team of archaeologists found evidence of past communities living and working within the landscape. Activity from both prehistoric communities and the medieval period was particularly prominent…
Sizewell Link Road, Theberton
On this site high‑status burials dating to the 7th century were meticulously excavated and analysed by our team…
Sizewell Link Road, Middleton
Evidence of prehistoric structures, Roman industry and Anglo-Saxon cemeteries has reshaped our understanding of how earlier communities used this coastal landscape…
Stone Walk
From Early Neolithic farming communities to Roman cemeteries, medieval domestic activity and now, modern infrastructure, we have been able to trace how this land has been used by the people living here for over 6,000 years…
Recent News
Project
The Coastal Landscape of Sizewell
With many of our excavation areas lying less than 3 km from the North Sea, each site we dig reveals another chapter in how this landscape has been shaped and reclaimed over thousands of years by both people and nature.
Date Written
29th July 2026
Project
What the Light Revealed: Illuminating A Neolithic Long Enclosure at Sizewell C
The Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) team has discovered a rare Neolithic long enclosure ahead of the new Sizewell C nuclear power station project on the Suffolk coast.
Date Written
7th July 2026
Project
The wonderful world of Sizewell
Time for a spring update on the wonderful world of Sizewell; a quick run through of what’s new, what’s changed and what’s currently playing on our minds in post-ex (the process after fieldwork of understanding everything we’ve found) for the Sizewell C nuclear power station project. I’ll go through by period, try to be brief […]
Date Written
27th May 2026
Events
Family Activities
Lecture
Pop-up exhibition
Sizewell C’s Big Archaeology Showcase
Spotted the archaeology at Sizewell C on the latest series of Digging for Britain and want to take a closer look? Taking place from 10am-4pm each day on the 6th, 7th and 8th August, this open day will showcase a selection of the finds and explore the stories behind the sites uncovered.
Event Date
6th August 2026
Location
Sizewell C Visitor Centre
Family Activities
Heveningham Hall Country Fair
This two-day event is packed with attractions for all ages, including captivating horse displays, the wonderful dog show, and fascinating birds of prey demonstrations but maybe more importantly… archaeology?! We’ll have finds to handle and a chance for the whole family to get involved and join in. Come see us over the weekend, and look out for the OCA gazebo!!
Event Date
27th June 2026
Location
Heveningham
Family Activities
First Light Festival
OCA will be going to the First Light Festival in June; a free, multi-arts festival on the shimmering sands of Lowestoft’s seafront. We’ll have finds to handle and a chance for the whole family to get involved and dig. Come see us over the weekend, we’ll be located in the Sizewell C tent!
Event Date
20th June 2026
Location
Lowestoft