Record ID: MAS-D100231
Object type: BOTTLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Brown ceramic bottle with a glazed surface. It was intended to contain gin of Dutch origin. The bottle measures 310 mm long and has a diameter of 85 mm with a ring type handle on the neck of the bottle. The bottle is printed with the phrase 'WYNAND FOCKINK' 'AMSTERDAM'. In Amsterdam, Wynand Focknik has been making distinctive hand-crafted liqueurs and jenevers (Dutch gin) since 1679 (Greenberg 2012). In the 17th century, when the Dutch East Indiaman ships brought herbs, spices and sugar to Amsterdam, distillers started distilling liqueurs on a large scale. The city had become very pro…
Created on: Tuesday 2nd October 2018
Last updated: Wednesday 8th April 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100197
Object type: BOTTLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Six glass gin bottles. 'Case gin' or 'taper gin' bottles have a square cross section that means that packing became more effective than with round bottles. The bodies taper wider towards a sharp shoulder, short neck and a champagne finish. The bottles are olive green in colour, and are in a fair condition despite encrusting towards the neck. This shape and style of bottle originated in and was commonly made in Europe at least as early as the mid-17th century. These examples do not exhibit the bevelled corners generally seen on bottles of the 1860s or later and may therefore be earlier …
Created on: Wednesday 4th July 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100189
Object type: NAIL
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
The find consists of 8 iron nails and an unidentifiable object that contains one further nail and is made of, or covered in, what appears to be fur. The nails range in length from 135 - 175 mm, and c. 10 - 20 mm in width at their widest point below the head. All 8 nails have a rose type head and taper to a broad point. These features suggest that the nails were hand wrought, rather than cut or wire, a method where each nail is manufactured individually by hand on a blacksmiths anvil. The invention of the slitting mill c. 1590 simplified this process by manufacturing iron rods from whi…
Created on: Wednesday 13th June 2018
Last updated: Monday 30th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100181
Object type: TIMBER
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
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 deg…
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100180
Object type: CANNON
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
This item appears to be a small calibre black powder weapon, such as a swivel gun, commonly mounted on vessels throughout the age of sail as well as being used in terrestrial settings. The weapon is approximately 750 mm in overall length, with external muzzle diameter of approximately 110 mm flaring to an external diameter of 180 mm at the breech end. The condition of the artefact is poor due to heave concretion, though visual analysis suggests it is a muzzle loading gun. No Trunnions for mounting the weapon are immediately apparent despite the concretion. As their name suggests, swiv…
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100184
Object type: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A single piece of copper alloy sheeting, measuring approximately 70 mm by 55 mm with a thickness of c. 2 mm. The item bears 4 grooves pressed into the metal along the long axis on one face, only one of which is evident on the opposite face. The item appears to be distorted from its original shape, all the edges appear intact suggesting it is otherwise complete. The function of such an item is unclear, though it was recovered in close proximity to a swivel gun (MAS-D100180) and may relate to the functioning of such a weapon in some way.
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100183
Object type: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Find comprises of a single length of copper or copper alloy wire, measuring approximately 140 mm long and 10 mm in thickness. The wire consists of a central core of copper alloy strands, which are then wrapped or sheathed in a strand of copper alloy tightly wound around the core. The wire appears to taper towards one end, though it is not clear if this part of its manufacture or damage occurring to it during its use or post deposition on the seabed. The function of this item, clearly incomplete as evidenced by its severed ends, is unclear. Its finding was recorded as being in close pro…
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Friday 27th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100179
Object type: ORDNANCE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: 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.
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100178
Object type: TOOTHBRUSH
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: 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 secu…
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100177
Object type: TIMBER
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Section of highly degraded timber measuring approximately 216 mm in length by 31 mm at its widest point. The ends taper to a point, in a regular fashion that seems a deliberate aspect of the timber rather than part of the process of degredation. At least five nail or bolt holes are apparent in the face of the timber, further differentiating the piece from a section of unworked natural wood. The function of the timber is unidentifiable from the data available. As it has been recovered from a wreck it is likely to relate to the vessel itself and can tentatively be interpreted as a ships …
Created on: Friday 1st June 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100169
Object type: KNIFE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Isle of Wight
Workflow stage: Published
Double edged blade covered with concretions, around 25 mm wide and 280 mm long. Displays iron oxidation, and the item has not been preserved well. The blade is roughly 200 mm long and the thicker handle is approximately 80 mm long. Following consultation with Henry Yallop of The Royal Armouries museum, this object can only be discribed as roughly the shape of a common blade form , i.e. roughly lenticular, and about 25 mm broad. What is not clear is whether it was once the complete blade, or that this is part of one, or alternatively that it was the part of another forged object, and o…
Created on: Saturday 20th January 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100134
Object type: HANDLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
The stem of a silver fork or spoon with a hallmark pattern. The set of four hallmarks located together on the piece of cutlery indicates it was made later than 1781, when this practice was first introduced. Based on this image, this type of spoon/fork is possibly a Fiddle pattern - this refers to the shape of the handle - and is a type introduced in the 1780s and still in production today. The Fiddle pattern means that there are shoulders on the stem near the bowl, which is seen on this example. The lower end of the stem juts out around 90 degrees but this example may have been worn d…
Created on: Monday 23rd October 2017
Last updated: Monday 30th March 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-O100124
Object type: BRASS
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
One ornate brass piece. The piece has an aperture in the middle, in the centre of a circular disc which is itself recessed slightly into the surface. The disc extends laterally into two leaf-shaped limbs, which are decoratively styled and form curved arrows at their tips. At the end of each limb there is a circular hole, which was likely used to fasten the brass piece to its host object. These holes are countersunk, presumably to accommodate the heads of screws. The piece is approximately 90 mm in length, with a width of 40 mm and thickness of 2 mm. The diameter of the two larger holes…
Created on: Monday 11th September 2017
Last updated: Friday 27th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-F100110
Object type: POST
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: East Sussex
Workflow stage: Published
Heavily eroded and abraded timber fragment with marine borer and growth present. As it is so worn, it is difficult to tell what type of wood it is and whether this fragment was originally completely shaped and worked, or just partially worked to achieve its function. The timber does not exhibit any evidence or staining from fastenings, however, there is one hole that could have been a fastening point at some stage. It is thought that this fragment may be a broken post or groyne timber that has come from a beach rather than material relating to a wreck. Groynes are wooden barriers bui…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd August 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 8th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-F100107
Object type: TRANSPORT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: East Sussex
Workflow stage: Published
This ship's timber is 830 mm long, 110 x 120 mm in profile, with truncated 25 mm diameter treenails; and a 385 x 65 mm slot for the supporting metal work from which the visible corrosion products suggest that they were of iron construction. The images were forwarded to ship expert and author Richard Endsor. The timber appears to be the beam end from a small ship, with evidence of knees on both sides. The small piece of plank let into it crossways may be the remains of a waterway at the side making this face the upper side of the beam. The treenails probably secured the plank. The notc…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd August 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100045
Object type: BOTTLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
Base of a broken glass onion bottle found loose on the seabed with quite a lot of marine growth present, including over the broken edges. Found on Marl Beds - not long after passing over an area of numerous fairly amorphous concretions apparently loose on the coarse sandy seabed.
Created on: Tuesday 30th May 2017
Last updated: Friday 28th February 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100040
Object type: BOTTLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
One onion bottle dated to c.1700. Glass onion bottles were large hand-blown glass bottles, used aboard sailing ships to hold wine or brandy. For increased stability on rough seas, the bottles were fashioned with a wide-bottom shape to prevent toppling. Between c.1690 and c.1720 the outline of a wine bottle resembled an onion - a wide compressed globular body and a short neck (Robinson and Harding 2015). Most bottles before 1700 had a ring of glass just below the neck that gave anchorage to the string used to hold in variety of stoppers. The Dutch bottles usually had a longer neck than…
Created on: Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 4th October 2017
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-D100052
Object type: JUG
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
One badly damaged ceramic jug with marine encrustration. The vessel is probably stoneware, but possibly glazed redware as there appears to be the characteristic 'orange peel' texture of salt-glazed stoneware visible in the photo, with the 'reeding' that you get round the rims of stoneware vessels. If this is the case it is almost certainly German in origin. The rounded shape would place it somewhere in the second half of the 16th century or first half of the 17th century.
Created on: Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd October 2017
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-D100038
Object type: BOTTLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Four glass bottles that are all square, mould-blown 'case bottles', with a typical tapering profile. The square shape enabled them to be packed more efficiently in a case than round bottles, and the tapering profile stopped them from sticking when removed from the case. These were used for gin (although undoubtedly also sometimes for other spirits or wine). Square case bottles were made in Europe from the middle of the 17th century, but the tapering form seems to have become more common in the 19th century. From the 1880s the bottles were machine made, and the rims properly finished - …
Created on: Sunday 21st May 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 26th September 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100036
Object type: SAUCER
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
Pewter bowl measuring 15 inches in diameter by 2 1/2 inches in depth. This find is a pewter dish or saucer (the term 'saucer' is used here to describe vessels used to contain sauces, in order to disguise or enhance the taste of food), probably dating somewhere between the 16th and 18th centuries - there are very similar examples, for instance, in 16th century contexts from Nonsuch Palace in Surrey (Rosemary Weinstein, 'Pewter vessels', in Biddle 2005). That doesn't mean that this vessel is a high-status object - saucers and dishes were among the most commonly made pewter items, and wo…
Created on: Tuesday 25th April 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 26th September 2017
No spatial data available.