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TOOTHBRUSH
Unique ID: MAS-D100178
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Published 
This find consists of a brush handle and head manufactured from either bone, horn or ivory, with the bristles missing. The item is approximately 160 mm in overall length, with the head being c. 60 mm, a neck of c. 20 mm and a handle of 80 mm. The head of the brush is c. 15 mm wide, the neck c. 8mm and the handle c.10 mm. There is a small hole in the end of the handle, presumably for accomodating a lanyard or for hanging the brush from. In the head there are 32 holes for accomodating the bristles, with channels recessed and filled on the rear face where the bristles would have been secured. The condition of the brush is poor, especially the handle where the bone is heavily degraded. No markings are evident anywhere on the object. The brush is of a type used for cleaning teeth from the 17th through to early 20th century, closer dating is not possible without markings or further typological detail (https://www.dentalartsmv.com/the-long-and-remarkable-history-of-the-toothbrush/ accessed March 2020).
Notes:
This find comes from an unidentified wreck known as the Brandy Wreck, situated east of Portland Harbour in Weymouth Bay, Dorset. An investigation of the newly discovered wreck was carried out by Wessex Archaeology (2016) in conjunction with The Shipwreck Project, a local organisation who discovered the site, and at the behest of Historic England. The lack of datable evidence from secure contexts, structural elements of a vessel and other factors meant that a precise date or name of the vessel could not be determined. Broadly, the vessel is thought to date between 1600 and 1825 AD and may relate to a naval or merchant vessel, or potentially be a chance accumulation of artefacts.
Vessel currently has no NRHE or HER designation numbers.
Class:
DRESS AND PERSONAL ACCESSORIES
Sub class: Toothbrush
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: With Finder
Wreck details
Droit number: 090/18
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 160 mm
Width: 15 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 21st May 2018
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: P T
Identified by: P T
Other reference numbers
NRHE monument number: N/A
Droit ID: 090/18
Materials and construction
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SY7375
Four figure Latitude: 50.57411317
Four figure longitude: -2.38265074
1:25K map: SY7375
1:10K map: SY75SW
Display four figure position on What3Words
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
- Wessex Archaeology, 2016. Brandy Wreck Weymouth Archaeological Services in Relation to Marine Protection Undesignated Site Assessment. Salisbury : Wessex Archaeology, ,
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