Find Spot MPM2073 - Possible early 20th century stockless anchor, Portsmouth Harbour

Cast iron or steel stockless anchor recovered from the entance to Portsmouth Harbour in 2015 during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project.

Stockless anchor recovered by a crane barge in the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour while investigating an anomaly during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project. Made from cast iron or steel. Shank 2.00m long. Blades 1.01m wide. Arms c.0.80m long, flukes 0.51m long and 0.36m wide. The left arm had a diamond shaped boss, the right arm circular. No proof or other marks were visible. The type of anchor was not identified but it was thought to probably date to the early 20th century and was probably naval. The location of the find in the harbour entrance suggests that it had been lost or abandoned. Anomaly shown on SSS image suggests there may have been a chain or cable associated with the anchor on the seabed, but otherwise this appeared to be an isolated find.

UID: BWL1_0020 in Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project report.

Wessex Archaeology, 2018, Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SPM646.