A MAN has made a potentially exciting archaeological discovery while diving with seals off the north Northumberland coast.
Dr Ben Burville, 38, has been diving for more than 22 years and for the last seven has specialised in swimming with seals and other marine mammals.
Most of his diving activities have been off the Farne Islands and on one dive last December he fou
nd a rock with a grid pattern etched into the flat upper surface, which he thought was definitely man-made.
It has now been taken out of the water and is being examined by archaeologists and it could show that people lived on the islands thousands of years ago, even though there are no records of habitation there so long ago.
Dr Burville said: "It immediately struck me that this was a find that was extremely old and given the isolated position it may be indicative of an ancient civilisation in this now submerged area.
"I'm very much looking forward to finding out what this mysterious rock actually is."
He contacted the archaeology department at Newcastle University where he was put in touch with several experts who were all very interested in the find, but were unable to investigate further because it was submerged.
Dr Burville was contacted by archaeologist and newly-qualified diver Glyn Goodrick. Mr Goodrick, his dive buddy Barry Taylor and Dr Burville were taken out to the Outer Farne site by William Shiel aboard his dive boat Glad Tidings 7.
After Mr Goodrick saw the rock in situ, the four men hauled it onto the boat.
Archaeologists at the Museum of Antiquities will examine it in detail.
Mr Goodrick said: "The markings on the rock are certainly man-made, I don't have any doubt about that. It's hard to put any specific age on it but the grids are a very fine cut so I think it's likely to be newer than prehistoric.
"This doesn't change how interesting it is and quite how it got there is anyone's guess.
"There's nothing I can find that is comparable with it.
"My first thought was that it might be a gaming board, but the rock is the wrong shape to be that."
Dr Burville said the find was also significant because it is rare to make such archaeological discoveries in the seas surrounding the UK.
He added: "If indeed the rock does prove to be indicative of ancient inhabitants at the Farne Islands, then an underwater survey of the site where it was found would be appropriate to see if there are any similar finds."
