2026-09-23T02:37:56+01:00https://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/jsonhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/xmlhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/rsshttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/atomhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/kmlhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/geojsonhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/qrcodehttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results12210finds-181181MAS-D100181TIMBERPOST MEDIEVALFind 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.SHIP36391094/183MAS2018-05-22T00:00:00ZTimber2018-06-01T09:21:57Z2020-03-26T15:02:12Z18190851650114115214362DorsetSY637150.53759313-2.52346561feeds.passive.slims10MAS MASMASWood11988FragmentPOST MEDIEVALx41047NINETEENTH CENTURYx41047Diving181_IMG_2022.jpg446images/MAS2024-10-09T14:16:56.12Zfinds-234234MAS-O100234BARRELPOST MEDIEVALThis find comprises of the remains of three to four wooden barrels, which were buried in the intertidal sandy substrate of a pleasure beach. The action of the tide revealed the barrels and it is unclear how much of the barrels remain. End of the staves, lengths of timber making the sides of the barrel, are visible and clearly degraded. In some cases these give the appearance of flaring outwards, implying that only the lower portion of the barrel remains. At least one barrel exhibits inwardly projecting staves, suggesting more than half of the barrel remains. There is some evidence for the remains of posts protruding from the barrels which otherwise give the appearance of having been filled with sand and stone. The term cask is also used to describe barrels specifically intended for the storage of liquid, most commonly alcohol such as wine and beer. It has not been possible at this stage to ascertain the exact size and type of the barrels comprising this find, though it is estimated that they are of a small to medium size such as a Rundlet or Tierce. What the barrels were originally used for is not readily discernible, though it does appear that they have been repurposed for another function. The presence of posts within the barrels and their relative positions, laid out in a rough rectangle, suggests they used to accommodate foundation posts of a possible structure. This may have been a simple platform for bathers or anglers or something more complex such as a temporary jetty or pontoon. An image, submitted by the finder, dating to the 1850s shows structures in approximately the same position as the barrels, which may indicate the structure previously supported by the barrels. Alternatively they may relate someway to the practicing for the D-Day Landings in Normandy, which incorporated the beach and construction of landing pontoons. It has not been possible to firmly date this find from the available data, but given their condition and the preservation of the timber elements a more recent, post-medieval, date is tentatively suggested.Barrels have been in use since at least the time of the Roman Republic, with evidence suggesting their use from 350 BC or earlier (https://www.riverdrive.co/history-of-barrels/ accessed March 2020). Their suitability as water tight containers meant that, until the 20th century, they were essential for the transport and storage of food stuffs, water and alcohol. The whiskey distilling industry still uses traditional oak barrels extensively in the ageing process. The term barrel itself is a general term and there are many different types of barrel, determined by size, such as a firkin (c. 30 litres) and a tun (c. 954 litres). Container21413MAS2018-09-27T00:00:00ZStorage container. Food and liquid storage containerSite2018-10-15T09:58:04Z2020-03-30T14:21:28Z23441482835PAS5C5037EF001C03250003DownNW653654.66413092-5.64553486soils.bike.luck10MAS MASMASWood11988Iron11019Hand madeIncompletePoorROMANx41218MODERNx41047Coastal walking234_20180927_192948.jpg604images/MASPT2024-10-09T14:17:10.274Z