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Abstract
Much has been written on the use of lead and copper sheathing in post mediaeval shipbuilding, yet evidence for such hull protection by Dutch shipwrights in the 17th and 18th centuries has received little attention. A discussion of the archaeological and historical evidence pertaining to the application of copper and lead sheathing by the Dutch long‐distance trading companies outlines the argument for the innovative character, experimental use—on ships’ hulls—and standardization—on sternposts—as early as 1602. Archaeological evidence presented mainly comes from the Dutch East Indiamen Nassau (1606), Mauritius (1609), Batavia (1629), Vergulde Draak (1656), and Buitenzorg (1760).
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to all staff of the Western Australian Museum's Departments of Maritime Archaeology and Materials Conservation for their support and assistance. Also, I would like to thank Rasika Muthucumarana (Maritime Archaeology Unit in Galle, Sri Lanka) for sending small samples of copper‐alloy sheet 92/GH/102 from Galle Harbour shipwreck Site G, and Michael Verrall (CSIRO, Perth) for his assistance with the analysis of these samples. Finally, thanks to the two reviewers; their comments much improved this article.
Notes
1. Witsen (Citation1671: 157–8; Van IJk, Citation1697: 287–99) provides a cost of 93,685 guilders for a ship of 165 feet long. The size of this ship compares roughly to the size of the ship Amsterdam.
2. Formulae, Tables, converters specific to Materials: http://www.allmeasures.com/Formulae/static/materials/12/density.htm (accessed 16 March 2015), copper (Cu).