An Intact Wooden Chest from An Intact Wooden Chest from the 1686 Wreck of the 1686 Wreck of La BelleLa Belle

Michael C. West, M.A., Research Associate, Conservation Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station,

TX

Background

Other Finds:

Trade Items (knives, glass beads, hawk’s bells, brass Jesuit rings)

Weaponry (polearms, muskets, swords)

Navigational Tools (nocturnal, dividers, sounding leads)

Conservation Research Conservation Research LaboratoryLaboratory

The ChestThe ChestDimensions:

25.5 inches long

13 inches wide

13.5 inches tall

Weight:

300+ pounds

Thesis Research Thesis Research QuestionsQuestions

Who did the chest belong to?Who did the chest belong to? Was the chest locked? Private or public?Was the chest locked? Private or public? Why is there such an eclectic group of items?Why is there such an eclectic group of items? Why was this chest on the ship when it sank?Why was this chest on the ship when it sank?

The ChestThe Chest

LeftLeft End BoardsEnd BoardsRightRight

Preliminary Preliminary WorkWork

CleaningCleaning OrientationOrientation HardwareHardware SideboardsSideboards

Chest DiscoveriesChest Discoveries

X-raysX-rays FastenersFasteners HingesHinges LockLock OrientationOrientation

The The Internal Internal Matrix – Matrix –

like like hardened hardened cement!!cement!!

Artifact MaterialArtifact Material

WoodWood

h

LeadLead

Sounding Weight

Counterweight?

Line Weight

Musket Ball

Hand Pump Valve Piece? Sieve?

The Beauty of the BrassThe Beauty of the Brass

Scabbard Chape

Sword Hilt Guard

Diamond-shaped Washer on Brewer’s Gimlet

Thimble Fragment

Dividers

Sword Hilt Knuckle Bow

Iron Preservation IIron Preservation I

Iron Preservation II Iron Preservation II

Think of getting a cast on a broken bone!

After the Chest is Apart…After the Chest is Apart…

Inside the ChestInside the Chest

Cooper’s Heading SawCooper’s Heading Saw

Cooper’s AxeCooper’s Axe

Brewer’s GimletBrewer’s Gimlet

Cooper’s Draw KnivesCooper’s Draw Knives

Carpenter’s Draw KnifeCarpenter’s Draw Knife

Draw Knife HandlesDraw Knife Handles

Cooper’s AdzeCooper’s Adze

Two AdzesTwo Adzes

Chisels/GougesChisels/Gouges

AugersAugers

One One complete complete auger with auger with wooden wooden handle, + handle, + five five additional additional iron bits iron bits wrapped wrapped together together with twinewith twine

Small Gimlet – with “WF” Small Gimlet – with “WF” Initials!Initials!

Gimlet

Hewing HatchetHewing Hatchet

Other ObjectsOther Objects

Tinderbox Tinderbox Very poor conditionVery poor condition Made of tinMade of tin Circular, about 12 cm (5 inches) across and Circular, about 12 cm (5 inches) across and

4.5 cm (1 ¾ inches) high 4.5 cm (1 ¾ inches) high Five compartments insideFive compartments inside

One small circular compartment in center, about 2 One small circular compartment in center, about 2 cm acrosscm across

Four other chambers created by tin walls Four other chambers created by tin walls radiating away from this center compartment at radiating away from this center compartment at ninety degree anglesninety degree angles

Lead-based solder for securing compartment Lead-based solder for securing compartment walls to rest of boxwalls to rest of box

Reaping Hook (Times Reaping Hook (Times Two)Two)

Small PadlockSmall Padlock

DrumsticksDrumsticks

Shackle Shackle Bolt Bolt LockLock

A quick-fix A quick-fix for holding for holding prisoners?prisoners?

Gaff…or Cattle Hook?Gaff…or Cattle Hook?

Sounding Lead (Shallow Sounding Lead (Shallow Water)Water)

Weight: 3.38 kg (7.45 lb)Weight: 3.38 kg (7.45 lb)

Navigational DividersNavigational Dividers

Fishing Net WeightFishing Net Weight

7-Tine Fishing Spear7-Tine Fishing Spear

Sword Sword HiltHilt

GripGripKnuckle Knuckle

BowBowGuardGuard

Where is the Where is the missing missing

piece, the piece, the pommel?pommel?

The Missing Pommel?The Missing Pommel?

Sword Hilt GripSword Hilt Grip

Pewter ForkPewter Fork- “M CARDIN” & “FIN”- “M CARDIN” & “FIN”

1691: Michel Cardin 1691: Michel Cardin becomes one of three becomes one of three pewter tax officials in La pewter tax officials in La RochelleRochelle

1707: Cardin dies and his 1707: Cardin dies and his wife Elizabeth takes over wife Elizabeth takes over his authority as tax officialhis authority as tax official

*Mystery* Artifacts*Mystery* Artifacts

OwnershipOwnership

Cooper – cooper’s axe, cooper’s adze, 2 Cooper – cooper’s axe, cooper’s adze, 2 cooper’s draw knives, brewer’s gimlet, cooper’s draw knives, brewer’s gimlet, cold chisel, cooper’s heading sawcold chisel, cooper’s heading saw

Carpenter – square, mortising chisel, 2 Carpenter – square, mortising chisel, 2 adzes, hatchet, 2 gouges, gimlet, draw adzes, hatchet, 2 gouges, gimlet, draw knife, augersknife, augers

Ship’s Pilot – sounding lead, fishing Ship’s Pilot – sounding lead, fishing spear, net weight, dividers, possible gaffspear, net weight, dividers, possible gaff

OwnershipOwnership

Livestock Tender? Soldier? Farmer? One Livestock Tender? Soldier? Farmer? One of the elite? (Sword, 3 padlocks, possible of the elite? (Sword, 3 padlocks, possible gate pull, thimble, lead shot, 4 drumsticks, gate pull, thimble, lead shot, 4 drumsticks, fork…)fork…)

Maybe a kleptomaniac! Maybe a kleptomaniac!

Initials: “WF” from gimlet & “IO”? “JO”? Initials: “WF” from gimlet & “IO”? “JO”? “OI”? “OJ”? (etc) from fork = Differing “OI”? “OJ”? (etc) from fork = Differing origins!origins!

A A PossiblePossible History History

La Rochelle La Rochelle l’Aimablel’Aimable L’Aimable L’Aimable Camp constructed of Camp constructed of

l’Aimable l’Aimable woodwood Camp Camp La BelleLa Belle La Belle La Belle Staging Area Staging Area Staging Area Staging Area Permanent Settlement Permanent Settlement

-- -- La Salle reverses orders!La Salle reverses orders!Permanent Settlement Permanent Settlement Back to Back to BelleBelle, ,

one last time…one last time…

EndEnd

It’s a Dirty Job…It’s a Dirty Job……Any Questions?…Any Questions?