Page 157 - Kennemerland VOC ship, 1664 - Published Reports

C. T. C. DOBBS AND R. A. PRICE: THE KENNEMERLAND SITE, AN INTERIM REPORT
IV Clay pipes: (a) stem fragments; (b) bowl fragments
V Lead shot
v1 Personal possessions
VII Items associated with ships
armament
VIII Bronze sheeting fragments
IX Bronze nails
X Lead fragments
XI Bones
XI1 Pieces of rope
XI11 Glazed earthernware sherds
The areas of excavation were divided into theoretical metre squares (Fig. 1) and each square given a unique number as indicated in the key to the grid (Fig. 2). A gap in the numbering system differentiates the previous data from that of the 1984 and 1987 seasons. The number of items from each of the classes is tabulated in Fig. 3. Five classes (VII, VIII, IX, XI, XII) yielded no items and are therefore omitted. The data for individual classes can then be rep- resented spacially as in Fig. 4, but computer pro- grammes can be used to analyse and interpret the data further (Muckelroy, 1978: 207-214). The data for the 1984 and 1987 seasons is presented in this interim report to complement previous data and allow such studies to be made.
Observations
In the section across the site at the 11.5 m mark (Fig. 5 ) the larger overlying boulders, 0.3-0.9 m diameter, have already been removed along with kelp cover up to 1.8 m high. Although there were subsidiary deposits, the three main levels across site J were: an upper layer (1) of loose sand and gravel; a second firmer layer (2) of a matrix of gravel silt and sand, stained yellow from the organic material within, and an underlying layer (3) of more chalky, grey gravel, very tightly com- pacted and including many stones with a coarse
covering. Artefacts were found in both the upper layers, with the least disturbed lying on the third layer. Even lead objects and mercury did not penetrate the surface of this lowest layer, and test excavations showed it to be unnecessary to excavate below this.
A problem often encountered on land sites is the disruption to the deposits caused by burrow- ing animals. Similar problems occur on under- water sites: one morning eight crabs were found
Figure 2.
Key to the grid square numbers for the 1984 and 1987 excavations(Squares 15-18 formed site Bin 1974).
burrowed up to 100mm deep in the excavation face. On being disturbed, they moved stones much larger than themselves in their attempts to avoid us. This observation is expanded upon by Ferrari & Adams (1989).
During the 1976 season an experiment was started on the main site to try to determine how artefacts might have moved around on the seabed after their initial deposition during the wrecking process. A number of complete and broken earthenware flowerpots were placed on
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