Bronze Age shipwreck found off Devon coast

[Melvadius]

The Telegraph have an interesting report on the discovery of a Bronze Age shipwreck off the coast of Devon. I am not totally convinced by the suggestion in the report that the cargo was being imported into Britain as both copper and tin were mined in Britain in the period. However, I have seen examples of the type of geological information the metallurgists working on the ingots are liable to obtain so I am confident that they should be able to identify the geological strata the original minerals in the ingots came from and so confirm with a fair degree of certainty if the imports or exports.

 

Basically they will compare the precise combination of elements and rare isotopes (which vary depending on their source) found in the ingots and make comparisons with known mining areas across Europe to determine the most likely origin.

 

One of the world's oldest shipwrecks has been discovered off the coast of Devon after lying on the seabed for almost 3,000 years.

 

The trading vessel was carrying an extremely valuable cargo of tin and hundreds of copper ingots from the Continent when it sank.

 

Experts say the "incredibly exciting" discovery provides new evidence about the extent and sophistication of Britain's links with Europe in the Bronze Age as well as the remarkable seafaring abilities of the people during the period.

 

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

[Melvadius]

National Geographic have now followed up on this story with a picture article featuring some images from the dive including the ingots currently undergoing analysis at Oxford University. Edited February 25, 2010 by Melvadius