Bronze Age raft returns to Brigg after 40 years

The remains of a Bronze Age raft have returned to a North Lincolnshire town after they were stored away in London for nearly 40 years.

The 3,000-year-old flat-bottomed oak boat was discovered in Brigg by workmen digging for clay in the 1880s.

Archaeologists excavated the 18ft (5.5m) long raft in the 1970s and it has since been kept in storage at the National Maritime Museum in London.

The relic has been restored and is expected to be unveiled in May.

Councillor Rob Waltham, chairman of Brigg Heritage Centre, said: "It's amazing that we've got it back.

"The work has been going on with the York Archaeological Trust to bring it back to how it is now.

"The great buzz for me is the town's children will be able to get a glimpse of what the area used to be 3,000 years ago."

Work is taking place to put the raft, which dates back to 760 BC, on display at the Brigg Heritage Centre in a £40,000 purpose-built case.

It is expected to be formally unveiled on 10 May by MP Andrew Percy... (Video) BBC