ADMAT's Island Wreck - Artefact Handling 2

Artefact Handling At ADMAT's Maritime Archaeological Centre.

Page 2

During this field school project, a number of artefacts were examined. Two iron concreted cannon balls from The Tile Wreck and one from The Island Wreck were examined, then the concretion was removed and the artefacts were further examined. Small ballast stones from The Island Wreck were cut open and examined under a lope prior to being sent to ADMAT-FRANCE for identification.

One session which the Team enjoyed was the part where we examined some of the larger iron concretions from The Tile Wreck. From X Ray analysis conducted in Toronto, we know that most of the tools or iron items were now Ghost Concretions with voids. These had been created by the iron leaching out of the object forming the concretion. In time all the iron was dissolved leaving a hollow creating a ghost of its former self. Two box carpenter plane blades were cut and the residue removed and cleaned to reveal a section of the items. As a result of this we now know the object was not what we thought it was.

During the project we were delighted to show one of the social science classes from the Universidad Autonoma De Santo Domingo the artefacts and our work. Over 40 staff and students from the University came, including Prof. Fernandez and Director Flavia Perez. Dr. Spooner was invited to give a one day conference on maritime archaeology and protecting the Dominican Republic's great underwater cultural heritage. This was a great success with over 550 staff and students filling the University's auditorium. The University is the oldest in the new World and was created in 1538.

Featured

One of two four pounder iron cannon ball from The Tile Wreck with concretion. Note the one on the right has considerable more concretion

One of two four pounder iron cannon ball from The Tile Wreck with concretion. Note the one on the right has considerable more concretion

The concretion removed

A small sherd being examined

One of the six pounder iron cannon balls from The Island Wreck with the concretion removed

A Ghost concretion of an iron square headed nail from The Island Wreck

Ballast rock sample IWa from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished.

Sample IWaunder a 10 X magnification

Ballast rock sample IWb from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished

Sample IWbunder a 10 X magnification.

Ballast rock sample IWc from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished

Sample IWcunder a 10 X magnification

Ballast rock sample IWd from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished

Sample IWdunder a 10 X magnification

Ballast rock sample IWe from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished

Sample IWeunder a 10 X magnification

Ballast rock sample IWf from The Island Wreck, cut but not polished

Sample IWfunder a 10 X magnification

Wesley, Prof. Fernandez, Dr. Spooner and Director Flavia Perez

Dr. Spooner, Yassi Ramos, Wesley and Prof. Fernandez

Students from Santiago University being given a tour of the ADMAT lab

Wesley showing some of the artefacts currently under conservation

Dr. Spooner demonstrating how a Barbers Bowl works, from The Tile Wreck

Dr. Spooner explaining the anchors from The Tile Wreck to Prof. Fernandez and Director Flavia Disla Perez

Dr Spooner demonstrating the Site Recorder program which was used to map The Tile Wreck Shipscape

Students and staff member Rami working out how to weigh one of the small granite blocks from The Tile Wreck.

Weighing the water in the container so we can use that as a known weight

Bianka with her support staff who prepared all the excellent meals etc

ADMAT dog MO daughter of IZI

Please go to page 3 to continue.

ADMAT's maritime archaeological work on this wreck site was assisted by ADMAT-FRANCE a non profit organisation based in the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

ADMAT-FRANCE is a sub division of the Anglo ~ Danish Maritime Archaeological Team

ADMAT is delighted to have an association with Muséum Nationald’Histoire Naturelle at Paris, départememt Préhistoire, UMR-CNRS 7194.