Archaeologists have made a landmark discovery in north-east England, unearthing evidence of a vast, previously unknown Roman industrial complex dedicated to manufacturing. The find, hailed as one of the most significant in the region for a century, centres on the banks of the River Wear near Sunderland.
A Staggering Haul of Roman Tools
The team, led by project leader and Durham University honorary fellow Gary Bankhead, was astonished to recover more than 800 whetstones from the site at Offerton. These stone bars were essential for sharpening bladed tools and weapons and were ubiquitous throughout the Roman empire, with every soldier requiring one.
"About 250 whetstones have been discovered in the British Isles," Bankhead explained. "So for us to suddenly find at least 800 and very likely many hundreds if not thousands more buried in the riverbank… it is staggering." This represents the largest known whetstone discovery in north-west Europe.
An Ancient Production and Trade Hub
The theory is that the Offerton site functioned as a specialised production hub. Sandstone was likely quarried on the north bank of the Wear and transported to the flatter southern bank to be fashioned into finished whetstone bars.
Its riverside location made it an ideal trading post. River vessels could transport the finished goods to a point where they were loaded onto sea-going ships, destined for other parts of Roman Britain and the near continent. This firmly places north-east England within the empire's sophisticated trade and manufacturing network.
Adding considerable weight to this theory is the discovery of 11 stone anchors at the site—the largest number found at any northern European river location—indicating significant boat traffic.
Rewriting Sunderland's Roman History
One of the most profound implications of the discovery is that it puts Sunderland on the Roman map for the first time. "It is only 10 miles or so south of Hadrian’s Wall so you would expect the Romans to be in Sunderland, but there has been virtually no archaeological evidence," Bankhead noted.
All the whetstones found were damaged or were off-cuts, which aligns with the site being a production centre. "The second it fractures, it’s useless, it can’t be used, which is why they remain there," Bankhead said. The perfect stones would have been shipped out for use.
The evidence suggests Offerton is the first Roman site in Britain where stone was deliberately quarried specifically for whetstone production. The site was excavated by volunteer enthusiasts from the Vedra Hylton community association, assisted by Durham University researchers and students.
Eleri Cousins, an assistant professor in Roman archaeology at Durham University, said the find has the potential "to make a significant addition to our understanding of manufacturing and industry in Roman Britain, particularly in the militarised north of the province."
Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, connected the ancient discovery to the city's enduring industrial spirit: "Ships, coal, pottery, glass and cars have all been made on the banks of the Wear… This work has revealed yet another generation of makers who have shaped the industrious city we are today."
The discovery will be featured in an upcoming episode of BBC Two's Digging for Britain, available on iPlayer from 7 January.
