Artifact Collection (1996)

Fusil portant des marques A total of 1,664 objects were recovered in 1996, including 1,026 pieces of lead shot, several dozen potsherds, glass fragments and animal bones. A number of weaponry-related items were also found: 2 cartridge pouches or small leather bags containing ammunition; 2 bandoliers or leather cross-belts that were worn over the shoulder and from which were suspended leather-covered, vial-shaped, metal containers for carrying gunpowder; 35 components of various types of firearms, often bearing initials or decorative features indicating private ownership; a series of cartridges fused together in a block; and 6 pistol and 5 sword components. This collection will make it possible to study the personal military equipment of militiamen in the 17th century and, especially, to gain a better understanding of the technology used for making cartridges during that period. In addition, it includes a large number of artifacts bearing personal marks or initials, which will even allow researchers to identify their owners.

Sac en cuir Projectiles Fragment de textile

Pistolet Gravure de De Gheyn (1607) Trois cuillères

A number of the objects uncovered in 1996 correspond to on-board equipment or personal belongings: 3 cauldrons, 13 spoons, a porringer, an oil lamp, 29 buttons, 24 shoes, wool fabric possibly from a piece of clothing, 8 buckles, 9 pipes, 7 coins including a French, silver, 4-sol piece, a pewter ring bearing a fleur-de-lis which was probably a personal seal, 2 ointment jars, a comb, a whetstone, a grindstone, 4 pins, and 4 tacks.

As a whole, the artifacts recovered from the site constitute an excellent reference collection for the 17th century because of the wide range of objects represented. The weapons, ceramics, shoes and spoons (see Cuillères (1996), Céramiques (1996), Souliers (1996)) are particularly valuable sources of information on the stylistic evolution of such objects during the 17th century. It should be noted, however, that many of the objects found at Anse aux Bouleaux can still not be identified. This is not surprising considering that they spent over 300 years in salt water after the vessel transporting them was shipwrecked.

Several artifacts can be seen here: a barrel cover with a pewter spout for pouring out the barrel's contents; a leather strap (in the middle of the photograph), which seems to extend beneath the cover; a cartridge box (to the right of the cover); and a gun barrel (at the bottom of the photograph).
A grindstone with a wooden axle is one of the unusual objects found on the site. A fragment of glass from a wine bottle can also be seen in this photograph.


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