Archaeologists investigating a remote island off Norway’s western coast have recovered a grooved stone that may be one of the world’s oldest known boat anchors. The discovery could offer rare evidence of how Stone Age communities navigated dangerous waters thousands of years ago. Researchers found the stone about 20 meters (66 feet) underwater near an ancient greenstone quarry on Hespriholmen, an island roughly five kilometers (three miles) from the mainland.
The object weighs more than 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and has a groove running around its surface. Archaeologists believe the groove may have held a rope used to secure boats. Leif Inge Åstveit, an archaeologist at the University Museum in Bergen, believes the stone served as an anchor. Its location among discarded quarry stones strengthens that interpretation.
If confirmed, the discovery could represent Norway’s oldest known anchor and potentially one of the earliest examples worldwide. Archaeologists have previously found stone anchors at ancient Mediterranean shipwreck sites, including the Bronze Age wreck near Greece’s Dokos Island.
Possible Stone Age anchor found underwater
Stone Age communities visited Hespriholmen between 5,000 and 9,000 years ago to extract greenstone for making axes. The island’s strong currents and rough seas made these journeys dangerous. Workers also had to transport heavy stone tools to the quarry and carry extracted greenstone back to shore.
A mysterious stone found 20 meters underwater off Norway's coast could rewrite maritime history.
Archaeologists believe the grooved stone may be one of the world's oldest boat anchors, possibly dating back thousands of years before the Bronze Age.#Archaeology #StoneAge pic.twitter.com/FUqmLDqef4— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 12, 2026
Hein Bjerck, professor emeritus at the NTNU Science Museum, was not involved in the investigation but examined photographs of the object. He believes an anchor would have helped workers keep their boats steady while loading stone. The discovery adds to evidence of early maritime activity in Scandinavia. Previous research has suggested that Bronze Age Scandinavians crossed open seas thousands of years before the Vikings.
Archaeologists also discovered unusually large boulders underwater near the quarry. Researchers believe ancient workers brought them from the mainland to break apart greenstone. The findings suggest that prehistoric communities possessed considerable knowledge of maritime travel and heavy cargo transport. However, researchers have not conclusively established the stone’s age or function. The discovery requires scientific publication and peer review.
Ancient quarry reveals extensive Stone Age activity
The investigation also aims to determine how much greenstone ancient workers extracted from Hespriholmen. Using advanced mapping technology from Norwegian company NORBIT, researchers have created detailed 3D models of the quarry. A 1987 estimate suggested workers removed approximately 430 cubic meters of greenstone, equivalent to 30 to 40 large truckloads. Åstveit believes the actual amount may be substantially greater.
Greenstone axes discovered across southern Norway suggest the material circulated widely. Archaeologists believe these objects served practical purposes and may also have functioned as gifts or status symbols. Other archaeological discoveries have shown that prehistoric communities transported stone materials over considerable distances.
Arild Skjæveland Vivås of the Stavanger Maritime Museum believes people initially visited Hespriholmen to fish, hunt marine mammals, and collect bird eggs. Other research has documented how Stone Age communities in Norway developed ways to secure food from aquatic environments. The discovery of greenstone may have transformed the island into a quarry that attracted generations of visitors despite the hazardous crossing.
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