Duncan writing up his dive logs at the Bouldnor Cliff Mesolithic site , Isle of Wight
Old Elvet Bridge , Durham City : Gary Bankhead has excavated over 13,000 artefacts in the River Wear
Bouldnor Cliff , Isle of Wight , southern England
A former Mesolithic settlement and an ancient submerged forest lie at the bottom of the Solent – the stretch of water that separates the Isle of Wight from the southern coast of England . Towards the end of the last ice age , this land was habitable and utilised by early modern humans . Countless stone artefacts have been found here , offering a fascinating insight into how our early ancestors lived and sustained themselves . Many of the flint tools are as fresh as the day they were either lost , discarded or offered up in some form of ritual .
At around 11-metres deep the site is not difficult to dive , although visibility and currents can be challenging . Swimming among 8,000-year-old tree roots where conger eels now hide , is a pretty surreal experience . The Bouldnor Cliff site ( five separate areas ) has pushed back the accepted date for wheat being present in Britain .
There is nowhere else like it in the country , but unfortunately it is crumbling away so protection is crucial . The site is protected by law and recreational diving is illegal . Becoming a member of the Maritime Archaeology Trust ( maritimearchaeologytrust . org ) is a good place to start if you wish to visit this special place .
Garry Momber inspecting a tranchet axe at the Bouldnor Cliff site , off the Isle of Wight
PHOTO : SARA HASAN PHOTO : MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY TRUST PHOTO : GARY BANKHEAD PHOTO : GARY BANKHEAD PHOTO : GARY BANKHEAD PHOTO : DUNCAN ROSS
Elvet Bridge , Durham , northeast England
Saint Cuthbert or Saint Thomas Becket pilgrim badges . Some of Gary Bankhead ’ s amazing finds from the River Wear in Durham City
Archaeologist Gary Bankhead at Elvet Bridge , Durham City
Gary Bankhead at Old Elvet Bridge , Durham City
Old Elvet Bridge in Durham city is the location of a hoard of incredible archaeological finds that date from the Medieval period onwards . The Durham River Wear Assemblage ( DRWA ), as it is now known , comprises over 13,000 objects , all of which were discovered and excavated by archaeologist Gary Bankhead .
A former firefighter , Gary dived the shallow River Wear one day at the suggestion of his wife and found the horde . Today , he is a professional archaeologist , lecturer , television star of the series River Hunters , and one of the few experts on medieval lead cloth seals . Elver Bridge itself has become a Grade I listed building and diving around it is now forbidden . Gary kindly offered to give me an exclusive tour of the site so that I could add it to my project .
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