An anchor found throughout survey works for an offshore wind farm may very well be virtually 2,000 years outdated and are available from a Roman fleet, consultants have mentioned.
Brandon Mason, of Maritime Archaeology Ltd, mentioned it might be exhausting to “overstate the significance” of the discover as it might be one of many longest-surviving pre-Viking anchors from northern European waters exterior the Mediterranean area.
If dated to the time of the Roman occupation of Britain, consultants mentioned it’s almost certainly to have come from one of many bigger service provider ships of the Roman fleet.
The 100kg (15 stone 10lbs) wrought iron anchor, which is greater than two metres (6ft 6ins) lengthy, was found about 25 miles off the coast of Suffolk.
It was present in 2018 throughout marine seabed survey works for ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm.
Mr Mason spent hours monitoring the anchor on the seabed and was on board an offshore help vessel because the anchor was raised greater than 140 ft to the floor and brought to shore final 12 months.
He mentioned: “Everything factors to this being a Roman anchor of just about 2,000 years outdated, which is an extremely uncommon piece of historical past.
“If this date is confirmed, it would be hard to overstate its significance – we only know about three pre-Viking anchors from northern European waters outside the Mediterranean region and only two actually survived.
“We consider this discover may very well be the oldest and one of many largest surviving examples, giving us exhausting proof of the unimaginable quantity of exercise that should have been happening within the waters in Roman instances, however that we all know comparatively little about.
“It’s an absolute privilege to bring the anchor to the surface and to share its story with people not just across the East of England, but right around the world.”
He mentioned the anchor will go on everlasting show, at the side of Colchester and Ipswich Museums, after additional conservation work and evaluation.
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The anchor is believed to be someplace between 1,600 and a pair of,000 years outdated and is estimated to have come from a vessel of 500 to 600 tonnes, based on those that have monitored it.
Analysis to substantiate the age of the anchor is ongoing.
Source: information.sky.com”