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Description: | A total of 216 pieces of lead ball shot, brought in for recording in batches of 125 and 91 respectively, but here amalgamated as from the same findspot. A large number (93) have a weight of 11g +/- 1.5g, with a second main group (28) around 32g +/- 1.5g. This suggests a predominant use of pistol shot, with a notable presence of musket shot according to the main calibre divisions (Foard and Morris 2012, 121). Equally notable is an absence of shot of intermediate mass indicative of carbine use; those falling between probably representing outliers to the main groups, for example, impacted musket shot.A small group (22) clustered around 5g +/- 1g may perhaps represent buckshot and is potentially the result of sporting activity (Harding 2012); this suggestion is perhaps strengthened by a general lack of casting lines within this group.A group (21) weighing 27g +/- 1g may represent arquebus and caliver shot, effectively a group of small muskets possibly of 16 bore. The main group of muskets noted above seems to be of a different calibre.Two dumb-bell shot with connecting stems were found in the same field as the main assemblage. The first weighs 41.11g, had a maximum length of 42.0 mm with the first ball's maximum diameter being 19.3 mm the second's 20.9 mm. The second dumb-bell shots weigh 66.33g, had a maximum length of 3.58 mm with both shot's maximum diameter 20.9mm.There is a high proportion of flattened shot, 139 of the 216 pieces, including shot of all sizes. Some are very flattened but most have only a small flattened facet suggesting they hit some relatively soft material. Some of the very small shot have two or more impact facets. This may suggest they are buckshot, where several were loaded together and hit each other as well as the barrel when fired. The high proportion of fired shot has probably effected the clarity of the groups as "weight-loss resulting from firing and impact may blur the pattern" (ibid., 74) meaning c.25% were not unambiguously assigned to any of the groups mentioned above.91 of the shot, spread through the weight range, have casting lines clearly present, often they also have casting jets and there is one case of a mis-cast incomplete ball. But the quantity of impacted and deformed shot may mean this is an under-representation.One pistol shot has a cylindrical band, probably a swaging effect from being fired from 'turn-off' breech-loading pistol. One musket ball has a similar effect from being 'set up' into the bore. One pistol shot has possible teeth marks but these are over the impact mark suggesting animals rather than being chewed before firing.The high percentage with casting marks and the presence of dumb-bell all may suggest a 17th century date. Three powder flask caps have also been found in the field, again supporting this dating. The proximity of Dunster Castle, the site of a siege in AD 1645 to 1646, suggests a possible Civil War date. The density of these proportion of pistol to musket/arquebus and caliver shot might suggest that these are the remains of cavalry and dragoon arms which typically carried two pistols and one larger fire arm (Courtney 1988, 4).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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