A 15th‐Century Wreck of an Ordnance‐Carrying Ship from Atlit North Bay, Israel

Abstract

In 1977, a shipwreck assemblage was discovered off Atlit, Israel. Finds included three iron anchors, a large bombard, four swivel guns, stone and lead shot, and bronze helmets. The bronze bombard (2210-kg, 3.247-m long) contained a wooden wad and remnants of what may have been gunpowder. The swivel guns (each 185-kg) were bronze, with swivels and the tillers of iron. Twenty (or 21) bronze helmets were recovered. The findings provide rare evidence for the mounting of heavy ordnance on the bow of a galley or ship in the 15th century.

Key words:

• Carmel coast
• iron anchors
• shipwreck
• Ottoman
• Mamluk
• bombard

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank S. Shalev for the analysis of the helmets' metal; L. Tarassuk, T. Eser and R. G. Ridella for seminal comments on the ordnance; C. Pulak for commenting on the ground tackle; N. Liphschitz for identifying the wood; I. Segal for the metal analysis of the guns; I. Carmi and D. Segal for the radiocarbon analysis; S. Arenson and D. Syon for critical remarks and English editing; R. Roth for measuring and drawing the cannon; the late A. Raban for his support; the Israel Antiquities Authority; the National Maritime Museum; the University of Haifa. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and corrections.