A rare 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword has been discovered beneath the waters off the south Devon coast during an underwater archaeological survey, adding to the growing evidence that the area was an important centre of maritime activity during prehistory.
The remarkably preserved weapon was recovered from the Salcombe Cannon and Moor Sand Protected Wreck Sites by volunteer divers from the South West Maritime Archaeological Group while undertaking investigations funded by Historic England.
The sword was found by experienced divers Becky Gill and Catherine Gill, who described the discovery as one of the highlights of their diving careers.
“A child at Christmas does not come close to the excitement of finding this sword,” Becky Gill said after the recovery.
Catherine Gill added: “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.”
Archaeologists believe the sword dates to the Middle or Late Bronze Age, between approximately 1300 BC and 800 BC. Although centuries beneath the sea have worn away parts of the blade, specialists say the weapon remains an exceptionally significant find.
The discovery further enhances the archaeological importance of the Salcombe site, which has yielded an extraordinary collection of prehistoric artefacts over recent decades. Previous finds include Bronze Age swords, axe heads, a gold bracelet, gold ingots and more than 400 gold objects, believed to originate from one or possibly two Bronze Age shipwrecks.
Together, the discoveries suggest that the waters off Salcombe formed part of an extensive maritime trading network linking communities around Britain’s coastline and across the English Channel during the Bronze Age.
Neil Wilkin, curator at the British Museum, described the latest discovery as “a wonderful and important addition” to the story of the Salcombe site.
He said the sword has the potential to provide valuable new insights into Bronze Age seafaring, trade and the movement of people and goods along Britain’s coasts around three millennia ago.
The weapon has now been removed for specialist conservation to stabilise the metal after centuries underwater. Once conservation work is complete, the sword will be donated to the British Museum, where it will undergo detailed scientific analysis before becoming part of the national archaeological collection.
The latest discovery highlights the continuing archaeological significance of the Salcombe seabed, where ongoing underwater surveys continue to reveal evidence of one of Britain’s richest concentrations of Bronze Age maritime heritage.
Sources : South West Maritime Archaeological Group
