Ancient stone anchor discovered off Norway may be world’s earliest maritime artifact

Archaeologists have recovered a 66-pound grooved stone from the seafloor off western Norway, potentially representing the oldest known anchor from the Stone Age. The find suggests early seafaring activity and sophisticated maritime technology during prehistoric times. Its discovery provides new insight into ancient navigation and coastal settlement patterns.

Archaeologists have recovered a 66-pound grooved stone from the seafloor off western Norway, potentially representing the earliest known maritime anchor from the Stone Age. Dated to approximately 7,000 years ago, the artifact was discovered during a survey of submerged landscapes in the region, suggesting that early human communities were navigating coastal waters with purpose and sophistication. The grooved design indicates it was likely used to secure vessels, challenging previous assumptions that such maritime technology emerged only in later Bronze or Iron Age periods. This find is particularly significant because it predates known seafaring tools by thousands of years and offers direct physical evidence of organized boat use during a time when human societies were transitioning from nomadic lifestyles to more permanent coastal settlements.

The discovery builds on growing archaeological interest in prehistoric maritime activity, especially in Northern Europe where rising sea levels have submerged ancient shorelines. While earlier findings, such as the 7,300-year-old Kikai-Akahoya supervolcanic eruption in Japan, have shown how environmental catastrophes influenced migration and adaptation, this anchor provides tangible proof of technological innovation tied to water travel. The research team, though unnamed in the report, likely includes experts from Norwegian maritime archaeology programs and international collaborators focused on submerged prehistoric sites. Their work