News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Museum receives elephant tusk

From the Echo, first published Friday 18th Jun 2004.

AN ANCIENT elephant tusk from Africa that was brought to Dorset by a merchant ship from Lyme Regis is to be presented to Weymouth Museum tomorrow.

Members of Newbury Sub Aqua Club discovered the tusk off Chesil Beach in August 2000 and the tusk will be on public display from June 24.

Museum experts says there is evidence of trade between Dorset and the coast of Africa over 200 years ago.

Ships from Lyme Regis, laden with cloth and metal goods, sailed to the West African coast, returning with "packets of elephants' teeth".

Now, for the first time since the 18th century, a packet of elephants' teeth will be seen in a Dorset port. The display at Weymouth Museum will bring together other elephant tusks found off the Dorset coast.

Rodney Alcock, Curator of Weymouth Museum said: "This is a very significant find because of what it tells us about the past trading links of towns such as Weymouth and Lyme Regis."

Gordon Le Pard, marine archaeologist with the Dorset Coast Forum, said the tusk was a remarkable find as it could provide evidence of an ancient tragedy.

He said: "The crew on board the ship must have felt themselves to have been particularly unfortunate. They had survived a year long voyage to one of the most fever-ridden parts of the world, only to have their vessel sink almost within sight of home."