- Roman Anchors found from the Republican Period resembled Greek Anchors, where a ship would carry multiple small stones or pieces of weighted wood with a hole to thread the anchor rope.
- In the first century CE, iron tipped flukes started to be used in a design similar to modern anchors.
Lake Nemi Roman Shipwrecks
- In 1933, two vessels were excavated from Lake Nemi in Italy, with two intact giant anchors, one in each vessel,
- One of the anchors was identical to the ‘Admiralty Pattern Anchor’, and had a lead stock previously thought to have been a recent invention.
- Before these anchors were discovered, it was not known that the Romans were so advanced in Anchor design:
- The first Anchor had Flukes made of Oak, and a Stock made of Lead, and iron tipped Flukes. This anchor is on display in the Museo delle Navi Nemi.
- The second Anchor was made of Iron, had a Folding Stock made of Timber. It had a similar design to the modern ‘Admiralty Pattern Anchor’.
Other Museums
- Archeological Museum of Narbonne
- This Museum also has a similar giant Roman Anchor dredged from the Roman harbour in the Lagoon 4 miles to the south, with a stock made of lead.
- The museum also holds several smaller stone anchors with holes for the anchor rope.
Lake Nemi Shipl Museum