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ORDNANCE
Unique ID: MAS-O100179
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
This find consists of 12 lead balls varying in diameter between c. 15 mm and 21mm. All appear unfired and bear the mould lines and sprue marks from being hand moulded in a 2 part mould. The balls themselves are in fair condition, though some bear concretion/encrustation.
Images of the finds were sent to Charles Trollop, an expert in historical ordnance, who advised that in all likelihood these are English Standard Musket (0.775 " or 19.79 mm) and Carbine (0.615 " or 15.64 mm) Balls. These standards relate to most of the black powder/smooth bore period from the 17th to 19th centuries.
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:
ARMOUR AND WEAPONS
Sub class: AMMUNITION
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: With Finder
Wreck details
Droit number: 095/18
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 12
Diameter: 21 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 22nd May 2018
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Other reference numbers
Droit ID: 095/18
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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