NHER 59967 (Find Spot record) - Potentially Palaeolithic, medieval/post-medieval, post-medieval/modern and ?World War Two finds, North Sea

This record details archaeologically significant material recovered during off-shore dredging within Aggregates Extraction Licence Areas 242 and 361. These discoveries were reported to English Heritage/Historic England through the Marine Aggregate Industry Protocol for Reporting Finds of Archaeological Interest. See (S1) and (S2) for further details. See NHER 69602 for details of poorly-located objects potentially from Licence Areas 242 and 361. See [1].

Pre 12 October 2005. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Flushing Wharf, within material from Licence Area 361:
2 ?prehistoric animal bone. Cetacean bones, most likely whale. The eroded and apparently fossilised nature of these bones suggests a possible prehistoric date.
1 medieval/post-medieval cannon ball. Disintegrated before a photo could be taken.
1 post-medieval/modern wooden sheave (part of a ship's rigging system). The design of this object suggests it is post 1850 in date.
See Discovery Reports (S3)-(S5) and reporting protocol annual report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 2 December 2005. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Flushing Wharf, within material from Licence Area 361:
10 ?Palaeolithic animal bones. Identified as mammoth teeth and bones and a piece of deer bone. It was not possible to confirm these initial identifications.
See Discovery Report (S7) and reporting protocol annual report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2016.

Pre 22 November 2007. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Hanson's SBV Wharf, within material from Licence Area 242:
11 undatable bone fragments. Due to their abraded condition these fragments could not be identified.
2 undatable wooden objects. One is possibly part of a ship's rigging system, the other is too abraded to be identified.
1 modern aircraft fuel gauge. The back of an aircraft fuel gauge, inscribed with the word 'Smiths', beneath which are the letters 'MA'. This implies that the gauge was manufactured by S. Smiths and Sons (Motor Accessories) - a company which manufactured fuses and aircraft instruments during the First and Second World Wars.
See Discovery Report (S8) and Reporting Protocol annual report (S9) for further details.
Previously recorded as NHER 53905.
S. Howard (NLA), 18 March 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 March 2016.

February 2009. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Beck, within material from Licence Area 361:
1 ?Palaeolithic fossilised animal bone. This is a humerus fragment, possibly from a large mammal such as a mammoth.
See Discovery Report (S10) and reporting protocol annual report (S11) for further details.
J. Page (HES), 16 January 2014.

2021-2022 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Discovered on board the Arco Avon:
1 post-medieval iron bar shot fragment.
1 undated stone possible sounding weight.
See reporting protocol annual report (S15) for further details. Discovery Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 27 July 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of an object found on board Hanson's Arco Avon amongst material from either Licence Area 361 or Licence Area 401/2 (NHER 61441).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 9 March 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of poorly-located objects found on board Hanson's Arco Avon amongst material from either Licence Area 361 or Licence Area 401/2 or (NHER 61441).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 12 April 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Hanson's Arco Avon vessel, within material from Licence Area 361:
1 post-medieval copper alloy bolt of uncertain function. Possibly a 'dump bolt' from a vessel.
See Discovery Report (S12) for reporting protocol annual report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 25 July 2025. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf, within material from Licence Area 361:
4 ?World War Two aluminium possible aircraft component fragments. Jagged pieces showing a similar level of preservation.
See Discovery Report (S14) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.