Mystery river stones could point to Roman presence

Gary Bankhead (pictured looking at the camera) and his team have found more than 40 stones under the River Wear

Mysterious riverbed blocks which have puzzled academics since the late 19th Century could have been part of a "significant Roman structure".

Underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead has found more than 40 stones in the River Wear at South and North Hylton in Sunderland, and believes they date back to Roman times.

The blocks had been subject to "hot debate" by leading academics in the area in the 1880s, he said, who were trying to work out what structure they formed.

Mr Bankhead said the discovery was "incredibly exciting" for the region as it could prove Roman presence in Sunderland.

It is hoped the blocks will be lifted from the riverbed, near the The Shipwrights pub, by next summer and will be displayed to the public after analysis.

"They have these lead and iron cramps in them, which is a typical Roman building technique, and are wonderfully carved with chisels that have decoration on," Mr Bankhead said of the blocks.

The blocks could be almost 2,000 years old, according to archaeologists

The Durham University academic said while Roman discoveries were made across the country "all of the time", no physical structures were ever found in Sunderland.

"We pretty much know where all of the Roman forts are, occasionally we'll find a new villa or a new Roman town, we know where the Roman roads are, but at Sunderland there's literally no evidence they [the Romans] were ever there," he said.

He added the discovery strengthened theories that the blocks were part of a "significant stone structure" that crossed the river, most likely dating back to the 3rd and 4th Century AD.

'Remarkable discovery'

Mr Bankhead first searched the area in 2017 at the invitation of the Castletown Neighbourhood Action Group, but no findings were made then.

He returned with better equipment several years later and found the first submerged stones on the north side of the river in 2022 and 2023.

In June this year, he also discovered several others on the opposite side of the river.

It had long been thought the blocks were part of a Roman structure between North and South Hylton.

According to complaints in the 1700s, "ye stones of the old bridge" were "a nuisance to the river", while in Victorian times keelmen had difficulties navigating their coal-laden boats over the stones at low tide.

The findings were made in the water near The Shipwrights pub

One theory is they were part of a bridge pier. Although more research is needed, Mr Bankhead said there were "clear parallels" with a Roman bridge in Cuijk in The Netherlands.

"Without any shadow of doubt, what we found is a significant structure that crossed the river at this part," Mr Bankhead said.

"That in itself is incredibly important for not just the people of Sunderland, but, to a degree, the wider North East region.

"For me, personally, it was a remarkable discovery.

"We've been able to answer the questions to this mystery that's been puzzling people from the North East region from at least 1880."

Mr Bankhead has been diving for about 35 years

Mr Bankhead is one of few archaeologists that dive extensively in rivers.

The former firefighter has been diving recreationally for about 35 years and started exploring the River Wear at Durham in 2007.