Hello everyone! Gather ’round for an intriguing tale of unexpected discoveries that bridge the past and present! Imagine this: a leisurely dog walk along the scenic Northumberland Coast in the United Kingdom leads to a series of surprising historical finds that have experts buzzing with excitement.
Last week, Northumberland Coast National Landscape officials shared a fascinating story. A man strolling with his dog at Foxton Bay, North East England, stumbled upon some unusual pits near the shore.
Initially, these pits were thought to be ancient graves, possibly dating back to the Bronze Age or medieval times. However, a deeper investigation revealed an entirely different story.
Experts now believe these pits are actually bait or fish tanks from the post-medieval or modern periods. According to a blog post by the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, these tanks feature side and base slabs made of shale, a thick clay lining, and measure about 1 meter by 0.5 meters in an almost oval shape. Unlike typical graves, these tanks lack top slabs, which further confirmed their unique purpose.
One of the pits had been noticed as far back as 2013, but the rest of the structures were previously unknown to officials. Helen Wilson-Beevers, a communications officer for Northumberland Coast National Landscape, told Fox News Digital that the current hypothesis dates these structures between the 17th and 20th centuries.
Adding to the historical context, local historian Adrian Osler unearthed records of historical fishing activity in the area. His findings included evidence of a local fishery in the 19th century, supporting the theory that these pits were used as bait tanks.
Osler explained that these structures likely served various shoreside activities such as bait storage, live catch storage, or preserving fishing lines and nets. Limpets and mussels, common baits in inshore longline fisheries, would have been conveniently stored in these water-filled pits.
These intriguing pits were cut into “beachrock,” a formation of seashells and laminated shells that is rarely found in the area. Geologist Ian Kille noted that the presence of beachrock in this region is quite surprising, as it is typically found in tropical and sub-tropical environments. The formation of this beachrock hints at significant changes in sea levels, suggesting it formed when sea levels were higher than today, approximately 1,000 to 6,000 years ago.
Officials are still debating whether the beachrock is a natural formation or a man-made mixture of beach sand and lime, potentially used to stabilize the bait traps. Regardless of its origin, the discovery of beachrock has provided valuable insights into historical coastal erosion and sea level changes in Northumberland.
So, folks, next time you’re out for a walk, keep your eyes peeled! You never know when you might stumble upon a piece of history. This story is a testament to how everyday activities can lead to remarkable discoveries, unveiling hidden chapters of our past. Keep exploring, and who knows what you might uncover!
