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'ROGUE FISHERMAN' HAS SPOILT BRONZE AGE SITE
One of the country's most significant maritime archaeological sites has been severely damaged, it is claimed, by a rogue fishing boat.The undersea site off Prawle Point, South Devon, has been found to contain Bronze Age artifacts dating back 3,500 years.
On Monday, carefully placed marker buoys which indicated where the site lies had disappeared, and archaeologists said anchored lines pinpointing the wreck on the seabed had been torn up and cut.
Ronald Howell of the South West Maritime Archaeological Group (SWMAG), said he was "devastated" to see their hard work had been destroyed.
Mr Howell is a diver and secretary to the group, which comprises about ten people who self-fund the archaeological projects, carried out in their spare time.
The latest lines and buoys, costing around £5,000 in time and money, had only recently been laid before they were destroyed.
Mr Howell said: "This Bronze Age site is of international importance. It backs up evidence that Britain was linked to Europe and the Mediterranean through trade over 3,500 years ago, because of the object found from Sicily.
"It is a devastating setback to find our archaeological site has been ruined.
"The lines marking out the wreck on the seabed, like a map, have all been cut and the buoys on the surface have been cut away and disappeared.
"We also found a new lobster pot in the area which was not there last week."
Yesterday, Tim Robins, deputy chief of the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, said it was suspected one particular vessel was responsible for the damage, and its owner was being sought.
But he added: "If there is legislation that protects this site and marks it on the charts then I think this it's a mistake and a question of education.
"I doubt it's a malicious act.
"Most of the fishing industry would not go in deliberately damaging a site like this."
Local team SWMAG went about raising funds to protect and excavate the area, named the Salcombe Cannon Site, which has since offered several other items, including Bronze Age swords, rapiers and jewellery.
This can be a lengthy process, applying for a licence from English Heritage and following strict procedures to ensure the area is protected and well-managed.
Finally the team were ready to start the full excavation process, but the devastating effect of the damage has put a halt to the project.
Mr Howell added: "This is the most exciting maritime archaeological site I have ever worked on and it is a great shame it has been vandalised maliciously.
"I suspect this is the fault of one careless fisherman, with a winch of some sort. We truly support our local fishing trade but people like this give them a bad name and it isn't fair."
Mark Dunkley, maritime archaeologist at English Heritage, yesterday said that the site had most likely been damaged by fishermen using pots.
"It is apparent that potting has caused considerable damage to the site by entangling up to a third of the survey lines laid this year," he said.
"We request that all fishing vessels, and unauthorised divers, refrain from breaching the restricted area."
He said the quango was working with Prawl Point coast watch, Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, South Hams District Council and neighbouring fishing organisations to confirm the culprit and flag up the important issue.
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