2009, Wessex Archaeology, Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm, Archaeological Assessment of Marine Geophysical Data

An archaeological assessment of geophysical data as part of evaluation works for the Ormonde Offshore Windfarm and associated export cable route. The site lies within the eastern Irish Sea off Barrow-in-Furness, with the cable route coming ashore near Heysham. The geophysical data consisted of sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler and magnetometer data, which were acquired by Gardline Geosurvey Limited in 2004 and 2008. The studies identified one confirmed wreck (wreck 7002), 39 other anomalies of potential archaeological interest, and features such as palaeochannels and former terrestrial sediments, although data quality limited detailed interpretation for some sites. The assessments concluded that a 75m exclusion zone should be established around the confirmed wreck, while other features may require archaeological watching briefs or further mitigation as detailed within a formal Written Scheme of Investigation. Key recommendations emphasise implementing impact mitigation strategies, such as targeted exclusion and monitoring, to balance the protection of archaeological resources with development activities.