The only cauldron ever found in a river in the British Isles
a day ago
- #river discoveries
- #archaeology
- #medieval artifacts
- An iron cauldron discovered in the River Wear at Offerton, near Sunderland, could be the only one ever found in a British river.
- The cauldron, spotted during a dive in September, may date to early medieval times and is considered incredibly rare.
- It was found near a previously discovered large Roman factory, and its exact usage will be unclear until removed from the water.
- The placement in the river might indicate a ritual or votive offering, as cauldrons were valuable items used for cooking, washing, dyeing, and brewing.
- Funding is being sought for conservation work, and further site exploration is planned over the summer to study whetstones and timber structures.
- Volunteers will receive free archaeology training and help map timber structures by taking wood samples for dating.