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Material from the excavations at 75-95 Perth High Street.

551 434/4

Description Material from the excavations at 75-95 Perth High Street.

Collection Dr Colin and Dr Paula Martin

Catalogue Number 551 434/4

Category All Other

Accession Number 2012/89

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1328032

Collection Hierarchy - Group Level

Collection Level (551 434) Dr Colin and Dr Paula Martin

> Group Level (551 434/4) Material from the excavations at 75-95 Perth High Street.

Preview Category Catalogue Number Title Date Level
Digital Files (Non-image) WP 000745 Colin Martin, Perth High Street captions (see DP150981-151000). 2013 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150981 Probable oar-port shutter from a 13th-century context. Such devices were intended to keep the oar-ports of clinker-built ships weather-proof when not in use. They were mounted on pivots inside the hull so they could be swung clear when the ports needed to be open, and were equipped with an arrangement whereby they could be secured in whichever position was required. The triangular appendage on this example presumably fulfilled this function and the two small notches near its point were no doubt intended for a fixing loop. The use of such a cover implies a vessel with greater freeboard than one whose oars were operated from tholes set atop the gunwale. This object is therefore a relic of what was probably a substantial sea-gong ship propelled primarily by sail. It may not have been dissimilar to the well-known sailing galley depicted on the tomb of Alexander MacLeod at Rodel in Harris. (Cat No 354/A6476) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150982 An oak claw thole from a clinker-built vessel, apparently re-used in a building in a context dating from the second half of the 12th century. These devices were mounted on top of the gunwale as fulcrums against which the oars were pivoted. The oars were restrained on the backstroke by a rope or leather thong grommet for which the upper holes was provided. These items are a common feature of early Northern European boats and have survived in Scandinavia into modern times. One was recognised as a sand-impression on the 7th-century AD Sutton Hoo ship, while others have been identified on the 4th-century AD Nydam ship, and on the small faering found with the 9th-century AD Gokstadt ship. (Cat No 84/A6085) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150983 Upright thole from a clinker-built vessel, re-used in a 13th-century context. The wood is oak, from which a suitably-shaped branch-junction has been selected. On either side of the upright can be seen the stumps of two iron rods, on the centreline of the timber,. These are probably the remains of pins designed to retain the oar on the return stroke. That one is located on either side suggests that the vessel on which the thole was mounted was intended to be rowed in both directions. Upright tholes are much less common in the medieval period than claw tholes. This rarity suggests that this piece may have belonged to specialised vessel. A double-ended ferry seems a possibility. (Cat No 269/A05–0224) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150984 Clinker-type frame timber of oak. This is a "grown" timber; that is, it is fashioned from part of a tree where a natural junction provides the basis for the required shape. The bottom of the frame has been squared off to accommodate a keel approximately 90 mm wide. On one side of the keel (the right-hand in this photography) a 30-mm square cut has been made. This is to create a passage (limber-hole) to allow water to drain freely to a point where it can be pumped or baled. Above this, a series of stepped recesses on the outer edge of the frame indicates at least four runs of overlapping clinker planking. The first three strakes flare evenly upwards, while the fourth shows a distinct flattening out. This suggests a flared V-bottom such as might be expected towards one or other of the vessel's extremities. Scale 50 cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150985 An oak claw thole from a clinker-built vessel, apparently re-used in a building in a context dating from the second half of the 12th century. These devices were mounted on top of the gunwale as fulcrums against which the oars were pivoted. The oars were restrained on the backstroke by a rope or leather thong grommet for which the hole was provided. These items are a common feature of early Northern-European boats and have survived in Scandinavia into modern times. One was recognised as a sand-impression on the 7th-century AD Sutton Hoo ship, while others have been identified on the 4th-century AD Nydam ship, and on the small faering found with the 9th-century AD Gokstad ship. (Cat No 84/A6085) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150986 The reverse side of Perth05. Scale 25 cm. (Cat No 84/A6085) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150987 Clinker-type frame timber of oak. This is a "grown" timber; that is, it is fashioned from part of a tree where a natural junction provides the basis for the required shape. The bottom of the frame has been squared off to accommodate a keel approximately 90 mm wide. On one side of the keel (the right-hand in this photograph) a 30-mm square cut has been made. This is to create a passage (limber-hole) to allow water to drain freely to a well where it can be pumped or baled. Above this, a series of stepped recesses on the outer edge of the frame indicates at least four runs of overlapping clinker planking. The first three strakes flare evenly upwards, while the fourth shows a distinct flattening out. This suggests a flared V-bottom such as might be expected towards one or other of the vessel's extremities. Scale 50 cm. (Cat No 104/A12578) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150988 This oak frame timber has many similarities to Perth07. In view of the relatively close spatial and chronological contexts within which they were found, both may be parts of the same vessel. The seating for the keel, as with Perth07, is 90 mm wide, while a similar 30-mm limber-hole is present. If they are from the same hull then the limber-holes, which must have been located along the same side of the keel to permit a free run of water, provide a relative orientation. This suggests that the two frames may come from towards the opposite ends of the vessel. Scale 50 cm. (Cat No 88/A12563) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150989 Top view of claw thole (see Perth 05-06). (Cat No 84/A6085) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150990 Reverse side of upright thole (Perth03). Overall length 76 cm. (Cat No 269/A05–0224) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150991 Top view of upright thole (Perth03 and Perth10). Overall length 76 cm. (Cat No 269/A05–0224) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150992 Unused wrought-iron roves used to secure the rivet fastenings on the inside of the plank-joins. They were produced in strips with pre-struck holes for the rivet shank, and chisel-cuts so they could be broken off like pieces of chocolate. Scale in cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150993 Reverse view of Perth12. Scale in cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150994 Alternative view of Perth12. Scale in cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150995 Wrought-iron rivets and roves. These were primarily associated with clinker boatbuilding to fasten the edges of overlapping planks, but were also used for studding doors. Scale in cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150996 Three grown-timber boat frames (for B see Perth07, for C Perth08). (Cat Nos 88/A12563, 104/A12578 and 121/A12522) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150997 Bar-chart showing plank-joint thicknesses as indicated by the shank-length between the rivet-head and rove of the boat fastenings (see Perth15 and 19). Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150998 Both types of tholes from clinker-built boats (see Perth02, 03, 09-11). (Cat Nos 84/A6085 and 269/A05–0224) Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 150999 A selection of wrought-iron rivets and roves (see Perth15). These were primarily associated with clinker boatbuilding, but were also used for studding doors. Scale in cm. Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images DP 151000 Probable oar-port shutter from a 13th-century context. Such devices were intended to keep the oar-ports of clinker-built ships weather-proof when not in use. They were mounted on pivots inside the hull so they could be swung clear when the ports needed to be open, and were equipped with an arrangement whereby they could be secured in whichever position was required. The triangular appendage on this example presumably fulfilled this function and the two small notches near its point were no doubt intended for a fixing loop. The use of such a cover implies a vessel with greater freeboard than one whose oars were operated from tholes set atop the gunwale. This object is therefore a relic of what was probably a substantial sea-going ship propelled primarily by sail. It may not have been dissimilar to the well-known sailing galley depicted on the tomb of Alexander MacLeod at Rodel in Harris. (Cat No 354/A6476) Item Level

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