A Roman industrial complex has been uncovered in northern England with 800 stone blocks

Archaeologists have recently discovered a large Roman industrial site in northern England – along with hundreds of tools, providing a rare insight into how the Romans lived and worked.

The excavation was carried out by archaeologists from Durham University and focused on the site at Offerton, near Sunderland.

While excavating the River Wear, archaeologists found more than 800 whetstones – stone tools used to sharpen weapons and other tools – and 11 stone anchors believed to be related to river transport.

CHILDREN’S CONFESSION? POMPEII BURIAL SITE REVEALS THE SECRET BEHIND ROME’S AMAZING BUILDINGS

In a press release, Durham University described the cache as “the largest known whetstone found in Northwest Europe.”

It continued, “It places North East England firmly within the Roman trade network of Britain.”

The date of discovery is between 42 and 238 AD, which the researchers determined by the analysis of the soil confirming the work of the Roman period.

The dig also yielded more recent artifacts, including iron and stone cannons and a lead gun from the English Civil War, according to the university.

“Without whetstones, Roman tools would not have worked well. They were as important to everyday life as chargers or batteries are today.”

The site has been described as “a major manufacturing hub in Roman Britain.”

Officials believe there may be hundreds – even thousands – of whetstones beneath the river’s banks.

THE GREAT ROMAN CLOTHES RECEIVED AFTER THE DETECTIVE KEPT IT A SECRET FOR YEARS.

Many of the finds appear to have been deliberately discarded.

“Overall, these findings would extend the known timeline of human activity in this part of the River Wear by more than 1,800 years,” the release said.

Roman-era whetstones found in the River Wear were important tools used in almost every craft and trade. (Gary Bankhead, Durham University; Keith Cockerill, Durham University)

Whetstones were not just industrial tools – they were important to all aspects of Roman life, says Gary Bankhead, an archaeologist at Durham University who was involved in the excavation.

“All crafts — metalworking, carpentry, leatherworking, agriculture, shipbuilding, even domestic food preparation — depend on sharp tools,” Bankhead told Fox News Digital.

ANCIENT ORMAN FORT FINDS 2,000-YEAR-OLD FRUITS THAT HAVE SURVIVED HUNDREDS, AND OTHER TREASURES.

“Without whetstones, Roman tools wouldn’t work well,” he said.

“They were as important to everyday life as chargers or batteries are today.”

Archaeologists have found hundreds of Roman-era whetstones near the River Wear, pointing to a major industrial activity in northern England. (Gary Bankhead, Durham University)

Tools made here were probably exported to the wider areas of Roman Britain, Bankhead said – describing the abandoned whetstones as the site’s “most revealing” material.

“The sad thing is that the shape of the whetstones in one of the canals shows that they were thrown directly into the river from the river bank, mixed with flakes and flakes that were created during production,” he said.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“This placement strongly suggests that the waste was deposited in the river as part of daily industrial activities.”

“The site holds “great research potential.”