Stone Anchor (11A01)
This small three hole stone sand anchor was recovered from shallow water between Penlee Point and Rame Head in 1988. The single hole at the top would be used to attach a rope while the pair of holes near the base would hold wooden pegs, then deployed these pegs would dig in and provide extra grip on the seabed.
It has been suggested that these stone anchors were not designed for a long working life and were effectively throwaway items. This anchor has be deliberately shaped into a pointed form which suggests that some care was taken in its manufacture, more care than would have been taken had it been a discardable item.
The anchor is thinner at the top (25mm) and thicker at the base (45mm), and has three holes roughly cut through it approximately 25mm in diameter. The stone material was identified as chlorite schist but its source was not known.
This type of anchor was referred to as 'Byzantine-Arab' by Honor Frost (1).
See 10A11 for details about the other single hole stone anchors found in the Plymouth area.
If you have any more information about these finds then please contact us.
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References
(1) Frost H., 1963, Under the Mediterranean, Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., p49
