A 2,000-year-old log boat discovered buried in mud is to be put on display after a 10-year restoration project. The Iron Age vessel was found in 1964 during dredging work in Poole Harbour (Dorset, England) and members of York Archaeological Trust restored the water-logged timber.
     The log boat, which is thought to have been used for continental trade, is estimated to have weighed 14 tonnes. A glass case has been designed to house the ancient timber, which is due to be displayed in Poole museum in June. The final cleaning of the vessel has been scheduled to finish this month.
     The log boat, which carried up to 18 people, would have been based at Green Island in the harbour. After it was found it was kept submerged in water for 30 years while archaeologists decided what to do with it. As part of the conservation project, the boat has spent a decade soaked in a sugar solution before being dried out at Poole's Scalpel's Court museum.

Source: BBC News (9 February 2007)