TIMBER

Find consists of two sections of timber or wood. The first measures approximately 1650 mm in length, 85 mm in width and 90 mm in depth. There are no diagnostic elements visible upon the timber, such as tool marks or fixing points, and therefore its function remains unknown. It does, however, appear to be faced and is therefore unlikely to be a piece of natural driftwood.

The second piece of wood measures approximately 196 mm in length and 20 mm in width. There is at least one possible nail hole visible and again it appears to have been faced or worked by human hands. It is heavily degraded and this, coupled with a lack of diagnostic details, preclude any comment on its original function or use.

Both pieces of timber appear to have been at least prepared for use by human action, though how they came to be in the sea or when is unknown at this point. It may be that they relate to ships timbers, originating from a wreck or discarded overboard, part of shoreline installations, such as a pier or jetty, or simpley be lost cargo from a ship carrying timber as cargo. The nail hole in the second piece suggests that this has been used and is therefore unlikely to be cargo, whereas the lack of bolt holes or othwer fixings on the larger timber may suggest the opposite.

The fact that the larger timber was photographed with with a swivel gun (MAS-D100180) may indicate that it was recovered from the same area on the seabed.