3,000-Year-Old Bronze Age Sword Discovered Beneath the Sea Off Devon Coast

3,000-Year-Old Bronze Age Sword Discovered Beneath the Sea Off Devon Coast

Archaeologists have recovered a rare 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword from the seabed off England's south Devon coast, adding another remarkable discovery to one of Britain's richest underwater archaeological sites.

The weapon was found during an underwater survey at the Salcombe Cannon and Moor Sand Protected Wreck Sites, where volunteer divers from the South West Maritime Archaeological Group were carrying out investigations funded by Historic England.

Image Credit : South West Maritime Archaeological Group

Exciting Discovery Beneath the Waves

The sword was discovered by experienced divers Becky Gill and Catherine Gill, who described the find as one of the most memorable moments of their diving careers.

Becky Gill said the excitement of uncovering the ancient weapon surpassed even childhood Christmas mornings.

Catherine Gill reflected on the discovery by saying it was incredible to recover an object that had last been held by someone nearly 3,000 years ago, prompting questions about its maker, owner and how it ultimately came to rest beneath the sea.

A Rare Bronze Age Weapon

Archaeologists believe the sword dates to the Middle or Late Bronze Age, between approximately 1300 BC and 800 BC.

Although centuries beneath seawater have worn away parts of the blade, specialists describe the weapon as an exceptionally important archaeological find.

Following its recovery, the sword has been transferred for specialist conservation to stabilise the bronze after thousands of years underwater.

Salcombe Continues to Reveal Bronze Age Secrets

The latest discovery strengthens the international importance of the Salcombe underwater archaeological site, which has produced an extraordinary collection of prehistoric artefacts over the past several decades.

Previous discoveries from the site include:

• Bronze Age swords
• Bronze axe heads
• A gold bracelet
• Gold ingots
• More than 400 gold artefacts

Researchers believe these objects originated from one or possibly two Bronze Age shipwrecks, providing rare evidence of prehistoric seafaring.

Evidence of Ancient Maritime Trade

The growing collection of discoveries suggests that the waters off Salcombe formed part of an extensive maritime trading network connecting communities around Britain's coastline and across the English Channel during the Bronze Age.

According to experts, these finds demonstrate that prehistoric people transported valuable goods, metals and weapons across considerable distances by sea.

Neil Wilkin, curator at the British Museum, described the newly recovered sword as an important addition to understanding Bronze Age trade, travel and seafaring nearly three millennia ago.

Future Scientific Study

Once conservation work has been completed, the sword will be donated to the British Museum, where specialists will carry out detailed scientific analysis before adding it to the national archaeological collection.

Researchers hope the weapon will provide new information about Bronze Age craftsmanship, trade routes and the maritime connections that linked prehistoric communities across Britain and northwestern Europe.

The discovery highlights the continuing archaeological importance of the Salcombe seabed, where ongoing underwater investigations continue to reveal remarkable evidence of Britain's ancient maritime heritage.

Study Reveals Ancient Egyptian Princesses Were Skilled Archers and Hunters, Not Just Royal Figures

Study Reveals Ancient Egyptian Princesses Were Skilled Archers and Hunters

A groundbreaking scientific study has revealed that Ancient Egyptian princesses were not simply buried with ceremonial weapons—they were highly skilled archers and hunters who actively used them during their lives nearly 4,000 years ago.

Published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, the research challenges the long-standing belief that bows, arrows, daggers and maces found inside royal female tombs were purely symbolic. Instead, skeletal evidence indicates these elite women regularly performed physically demanding activities requiring strength, endurance and advanced weapon skills.

Rediscovered Royal Mummies Rewrite History

The international research team examined the skeletal remains of six members of Egypt's Middle Kingdom royal family, including four daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II.

Although the princesses' tombs were excavated at Dahshur during the 1890s, their mummies were believed lost for decades before being rediscovered during a curation project at the Egyptian Museum in 2020.

Their underground burial chambers contained prestigious grave goods, including:

• Bows
• Arrows
• Daggers
• Maces
• Other elite weapons

One of the most remarkable objects was an exquisitely crafted dagger buried with Princess Ita.

Image Credit : Sameh Abdel Mohsen

Bones Reveal Years of Physical Training

Rather than relying only on burial objects, researchers closely examined the princesses' skeletons for evidence of lifelong physical activity.

According to lead researcher Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, the bones displayed exceptionally strong muscle attachment points that developed through repeated use over many years.

The findings indicate the royal women regularly participated in:

• Archery
• Hunting
• Weapon training
• Physically demanding royal activities

Researchers say the skeletal evidence closely matches the weapons discovered inside their tombs.

Princess Ita Was Exceptionally Strong

Among the individuals studied, Princess Ita, who died between the ages of 28 and 34, displayed the strongest evidence of upper-body development.

Her skeleton showed pronounced muscle attachment areas associated with repeatedly drawing bows and handling weapons such as daggers and maces.

The researchers believe this level of muscular development could only result from sustained physical training rather than occasional ceremonial use.

Active Lives Despite Injuries

Other royal women also displayed remarkable evidence of active lifestyles.

Princess Khenmet, who lived into her late thirties or forties, showed signs of age-related bone thinning but retained unusually robust ligament attachments, indicating continued physical activity.

Princess Itaweret survived several serious injuries, including fractured ribs and broken foot bones. Despite these injuries, her skeleton also exhibited the muscular adaptations expected in experienced archers.

The study also identified similar skeletal patterns in Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor, suggesting archery formed an important part of royal training during Egypt's Middle Kingdom.

Rare Insights into Royal Health

Beyond physical activity, researchers documented several aspects of royal health.

The skeletons revealed evidence of:

• Healed fractures
• Bone infections
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Rare spinal abnormalities

Interestingly, the four royal sisters shared uncommon spinal conditions that researchers believe were linked to close family relationships and royal intermarriage.

Despite these health issues, the injuries had healed successfully, indicating the royal family had access to advanced medical care for the period.

A New Understanding of Royal Women

The researchers conclude that the weapons buried alongside the princesses reflected genuine skills rather than symbolic status.

Their findings suggest elite women played far more active roles in Middle Kingdom society than previously believed, participating in hunting, archery and other physically demanding activities traditionally associated with male warriors.

Future research will include stable isotope analysis, advanced imaging and high-resolution 3D models to better understand the princesses' diets, family relationships, health and political roles while preserving their remains digitally for future generations.

The study represents a significant shift in how archaeologists interpret royal burials, placing greater emphasis on the lives of the individuals themselves rather than solely the treasures buried with them.