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Offerton Roman Factory 'Hidden in Plain Sight' on River Wear
Over 800 Roman-period whetstones and 11 stone anchors were uncovered at Offerton, revealing a major industrial site supplying manufacturing and military needs.
- Durham University researchers uncovered the Offerton assemblage, recovering more than 800 whetstones and 11 stone anchors at the largest Roman-period site in north-west Europe.
- OSL testing of the whetstone layer dated activity to 104–238 AD, while sediment analysis led by Dr Eric Andrieux at Durham University’s Department of Archaeology found blanks through finished stones and a sandstone outcrop at Offerton indicating on-site quarrying and manufacture.
- Sixty‑five 'doubles' and a rare 'treble' were recovered alongside chisels, stone splitters, and post‑medieval wooden and earlier stone-built jetties, plus a Tudor leather shoe.
- With implications for regional history, researchers say the find could reshape understanding of Roman manufacturing and extend activity along the River Wear by over 1,800 years; further survey work is now needed.
- This isn't just a Roman site, it's Sunderland's story, said Bankhead, as local volunteers and partners like The Crown Estate and Sunderland City Council collaborate; researchers believe hundreds, possibly thousands more whetstones remain buried.
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21 Articles
Huge Roman factory was 'hidden in plain sight'
Allyson Timm was the first person to find the stones but had no idea what they were A large Roman factory has been uncovered on the banks of the River Wear at Offerton, near Sunderland, a site that had remained “hidden in plain sight” for centuries.The discovery revealed hundreds of whetstones, which were used in Roman times to sharpen swords and farm tools.Excavations began in February 2025 and were carried out by the local Vedra Hylton Communi…
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Center
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
78% Center
C 78%
R 22%
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