4,500-year-old boat among Viking artifacts hoard discovered in Ireland

Twelve boats, dating from 2,500 BC to the 11th century AD, along with other Viking artifacts have been discovered in Lough Corrib in Connemara, County Galway. Archaeologists have used radiocarbon dating to establish that one of the boats dates from 2,500 BC. Other items that were found include several battle axes and other weapons.

The ancient items were discovered by Captain Trevor Northage, a marine surveyor mapping the lake to update British admiralty charts. The Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) from the National Monuments Service then carried out a series of investigative dives.

The 4,500-year-old log boat settled into the mud when it sank and was covered over time. A mixture of organic sediment and lake water assisted in the preservation process. Even the seats in the boats are preserved....

http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/4500-year-old-boat-among-Viking-artefacts-hoard-discovered-in-Galway.html#ixzz2yVCZ11k1&f

I'm not that far from Lough Corrib. I hope they can get them up and make a museum or something; love to see that.

That's amazing Tess, hope you get your wish.

The oldest of the vessels is the Annaghkeen log boat, which is 4,500 years old, close to the age of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Northage pointed out, while speaking to the Irish Times, that it had been at the bottom of the lough for 3,500 years when the Vikings arrived.

that makes sense, I was thinking 'but Vikings aren't that old'

Interesting, sometimes it is better they leave them as it is very expensive to preserve them once out of the water. it is better it stays there, then be bought up only to rot because no one has the funds to maintain it.