Bronze Age shipwreck found off Devon coast [UK]

Telegraph ^ | Saturday, February 13, 2010 | Jasper Copping

[SunkenCiv]

...Archaeologists have described the vessel, which is thought to date back to around 900BC, as being a "bulk carrier" of its age. The copper and tin would have been used for making bronze -- the primary product of the period which was used in the manufacture of not only weapons, but also tools, jewellery, ornaments and other items. Archaeologists believe the copper -- and possibly the tin -- was being imported into Britain and originated in a number of different countries throughout Europe, rather than from a single source, demonstrating the existence of a complex network of trade routes across the Continent... It is first time tin ingots from this period have ever been found in Britain, a discovery which may support theories that the metal was being mined in the south west at this time. If the tin was not produced in Britain, it is likely it would have also come from the Iberian peninsula or from eastern Germany... In total, 295 artefacts have so far been recovered, weighing a total of more than 84kg. The cargo recovered includes 259 copper ingots and 27 tin ingots. Also found was a bronze leaf sword, two stone artefacts that could have been sling shots, and three gold wrist torcs -- or bracelets... it would have been up to 40ft long and up to 6ft wide, and have been constructed of planks of timber, or a wooden frame with a hide hull. It would have had a crew of around 15 and been powered by paddles... Although the vessel's cargo came from as far afield as southern Europe, it is unlikely it would have been carried all the way in the same craft, but in a series of boats, undertaking short coastal journeys.

[SunkenCiv]

The fact that both copper and tin was aboard (isn't that what it said? Oh geez...) could mean the ship was on the way to a place where bronze was to be made, in which case it seems likely that it was headed for somewhere in Britain itself. If it arrived without copper, then it picked up copper in Britain.

I'll love to see any pics from this find, particularly that sword and the bracelets.

Since the ship was in 8 to 10 meters, which is well within ancient diving capability, it seems likely that the entire crew perished -- unless salvaging only went on a little while in those kinda wild waters, to the point where the captain and crew could afford to have another ship built.

[SunkenCiv]

The hide stretched across the hull made it basically watertight, and the cargo itself reinforced whatever framing it had. But of course, every ship ever made which hasn’t been scrapped in the breaker’s dock is either in use, or on the bottom somewhere. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

LOL!

[Tallguy]

It could have been a transhipment from one area of Britain to another. It’s far easier to float bulk shipments than to go overland. The ancients would have known that.

[GeronL]

Can they replicate these today?

[SunkenCiv]

Other wrecks have been found, but each one is unique. By the techniques used to make each one some idea has been discerned about how and why. Anyway, more here:

• Minoan ship to ply Greek seas for first time in 3500 years

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1178420/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1178453/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1191651/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1199756/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1201978/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1248367/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1248376/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1339663/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1570539/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1659519/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1840776/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1841685/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1945781/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2031961/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2137701/posts

[GeronL]

interesting!!

XBox Live was down for a while... the tweets were hilarious

[SunkenCiv]

Well, I’m pretty sure we’re all more interesting than XBox Live any old time. ;’)

[GeronL]

Its back up now. The teeth gnashing was hilarious.

[SoCalPol]

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/

British Archaeology Magazine may have something on this
down the line.

[Corunna]

Hi
I am a member SWMAG the team that found the Bronze Age wreck off Salcombe, in trawling the web to note the reactions of the press release. I find there are many questions from people who are interested. One of them is the testing of the copper and tin ingots and of course the gold items. We have been quoted extrordinary prices for this to be done by the ‘experts’, one day we will find some one who can nail down the origin of these metals which is so important in telling the story of these wrecks. ( we have found two some 150 metres apart, one 900 BC and one 1500 BC) Adjacent to the older Bronze Age wreck is the original 17th Century site that started it all. You can see it is an expensive business for an amature team like ouselves. So at the moment its all theory.

[Slicksadick]

Welcome to FreeRepublic, and thanks for the further information.