Wooden powder-boxes. DP00/079 is the detached lid of DP00/166, showing the holes in the T-shaped top lug through which a string loop passed, keeping the lid securely attached when opened during the lo ...

Description Wooden powder-boxes. DP00/079 is the detached lid of DP00/166, showing the holes in the T-shaped top lug through which a string loop passed, keeping the lid securely attached when opened during the loading process. The capacity of this box suggests that it was intended for a 12-bore musket charge, that is for a shot-weight of 12 to the pound. DP00/170, though its base is missing, seems to be of a similar size. DP01/015 and DP00/149 are rather smaller, and were probably intended for 14-bore shot. These suggestions are supported by the lead bullets recovered from the wreck, which show peaks at 12- and 14-bores. At the time the heavy 12-bore musket was being replaced by the lighter 14-bore. The two caps at bottom right (drawn after Marion O'Neill, PSAS 121 (1991), Illus 5) are from pewter powder-boxes of similar type, and come from a context associated with the Civil War period at Tantallon Castle, near Dunbar, East Lothian. Scale 10 centimetres. (Colin Martin)

Collection Dr Colin and Dr Paula Martin

Catalogue Number DP 174833

Category On-line Digital Images

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1406140

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap