SerpApi.Org
A 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword has been recovered from the seabed off the south Devon coast, giving archaeologists a new glimpse into Britain’s prehistoric past. The rare weapon was found at the Salcombe Cannon and Moor Sand Protected Wreck Sites during an underwater archaeological survey.
The sword was discovered by volunteer divers from the South West Maritime Archaeological Group while carrying out research funded by Historic England. The find adds to a growing collection of Bronze Age objects uncovered in the area, which has become one of Britain’s most important underwater archaeological sites.
DiversBecky Gill and Catherine Gill made the discovery while exploring the protected wreck sites. Archaeologists believe the weapon dates from between around 1300 BC and 800 BC, during the Middle or Late Bronze Age. While parts of the blade have been affected by thousands of years underwater, the sword remains a rare and valuable discovery.
The latest find joins a long list of prehistoric objects recovered near Salcombe. The South West Maritime Archaeological Group said previous discoveries include Bronze Age swords, axe heads, a gold bracelet, gold ingots and more than 400 gold objects believed to be linked to one or possibly two Bronze Age shipwrecks.
A Sword That Brings The Bronze Age Back To Life
For the divers who found it, recovering the sword was an unforgettable moment. Becky Gillsaid the discovery was one of the most exciting experiences of her diving career.
“A child at Christmas does not come close to the excitement of finding this sword,” she said after the recovery.
Catherine Gill also described the feeling of bringing an ancient object back to the surface after nearly 3,000 years beneath the sea.
“It is an amazing thrill to recover an object from beneath the sea that turns out to be a Bronze Age sword. It makes you wonder who made it, who intended to use it, and who was the last person to hold it before us nearly 3,000 years ago,” she said.
The sword does not reveal who owned it or how it ended up underwater, but it gives researchers another piece of evidence about people who lived during the Bronze Age. The weapon shows the type of objects that were made and used during a period when coastal communities were active across Britain.
A Forgotten Ancient Route Found Beneath Salcombe
The discovery, shared by the South West Maritime Archaeological Group, adds to the growing importance of the Salcombe area in understanding Bronze Age life. Over the years, underwater surveys have revealed a large collection of artefacts hidden beneath the seabed.
The number and variety of objects found at the site suggest that the area was part of a wider maritime network. Communities around Britain’s coastline and across the English Channel appear to have been connected through the movement of goods and materials.
Neil Wilkin, curator at the British Museum, called the sword “a wonderful and important addition” to the story of the Salcombe site. He explained that the discovery could help researchers learn more about Bronze Age seafaring, trade and the movement of people along Britain’s coastline.
The site’s previous discoveries, including gold objects and weapons, have already changed the understanding of prehistoric activity in the region. The newly recovered sword adds another detail to that picture.
Thousands-Year-Old Sword Restored
After being brought up from the seabed, the sword was sent for specialist conservation. Experts will work to stabilise the metal after its long time underwater before further research begins.
Once conservation is finished, the sword will be donated to the British Museum. It will then undergo detailed scientific analysis before becoming part of the museum’s national archaeological collection.
The latest discovery shows that the waters off south Devon still have more stories to reveal. Continued underwater surveys at the Salcombe Cannon and Moor Sand Protected Wreck Sites are helping researchers better understand Britain’s Bronze Age maritime past.
