The estuary of Salcombe is a safe haven – for those vessels that manage to enter it. The approach to the estuary, however, is a different matter entirely, with rocks and dangerous reefs forming a notorious graveyard for ships. Halfway along this stretch, just two miles west of Prawle Point, three important wrecks have been discovered coincidentally within close proximity of each other: two of the Bronze Age and the third dating to the 17th century.
The most recent discovery is that of the second Bronze Age wreck, dated to about 800-700 BC. It is of particular importance because it is the remains of a cargo ship that carried a massive load of copper and tin ingots. Though trade in luxury goods between the UK and Europe during the Bronze Age is well attested, this find is the first clear evidence that not just luxury items but bulk commodities were also being transported over long distances. This discovery is shedding new light on the extent and sophistication of Britain’s Bronze Age links with Europe, as well as the likelihood of intricate maritime networks that were traveled by specialist seafarers.
Finding the wrecks
The site of all three wrecks is off Moor Sand, a secluded beach on the rocky coast of south Devon just east of the Salcombe Estuary. The first was found more than 30 years ago, in the summer of 1977 when Phil Baker, then Regional Coach for Yorkshire and Humberside for the British Sub-Aqua Club, was on holiday helping the local Youth Hostel Association by providing try-dives. While diving with Ursula Jurda, a German housewife making her second open water dive, he came across a complete Bronze Age sword lying on the seabed in about 8m of water. Later that day, a rapier blade segment was discovered in the same area. The sword was dated to around 1300-1150 BC, thereby establishing Moor Sand as Britain’s first prehistoric shipwreck site to be found.
