2026-09-11T00:01:44+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/results3120finds-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/MASPT2024-10-09T14:17:10.274Zfinds-177177MAS-D100177TIMBERPOST MEDIEVALSection 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 timber that has been exposed for at least part of its life on the sea bed.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. This item was found with a swivel gun (MAS-D100180), length of braided copper (MAS-D100183) and a flat strip of copper (MAS-D100184).TRANSPORT36391091/183MAS2018-05-22T00:00:00ZSHIP2018-06-01T06:40:00Z2020-03-26T15:59:14Z177352201142315PAS5C5037EF001C03214362DorsetSY737550.57411317-2.38265074commander.evening.twist10MAS MASMASWood11988IncompletePoorPOST MEDIEVALx41047NINETEENTH CENTURYx41047Diving180_IMG_2025.jpg445images/MASPT2024-10-09T14:16:55.013Zfinds-3131MAS-O100031TIMBERMODERNPossible ships timber or part of other marine or land based structure. Truncated rounded timber with hole and evidence of mounting plate for furniture, broken or rotted off at one end exposing heart wood and a knot in the wood. Approximately 2000 mm long and 600 mm in diameter. The undamaged half of the timber appears in good condition, implying a more recent date for the timber, whereas the other part appears to have suffered extensive degradation. The arrangement of damage to the timber suggests it may have been partially submerged during its useful life, possibly as part of a shore based instalment such as a jetty or quay.Timber29413MAS2017-03-09T00:00:00ZUnclassified worked timber2017-03-09T16:32:49Z2020-02-21T11:57:28Z316002000114235PAS5C5037EF001C03217765HampshireSZ699850.77748385-1.0227273minute.catch.muddy10MAS MASMASWood11988IncompletePoorMEDIEVALx14221MODERNCoastal walkingIMG_2450.JPG92images/MASPT2024-10-09T14:15:10.753Z