Vast amount of early 16th.c lead shot found in Denmark

Matchlock · 21st May 2011, 06:11 PM

[QUOTE=Per Lillelund Jensen
Very interesting is the lead shots for small caliber cannons, with iron or stone core. With a cal. of 45-47mm.

Hagebøsse/Hagenbusse shot in cal. from 10/11mm and up to 20/21mm.

Some very small lead balls with a diameter from 6,3-9mm confuses me? could it be from some form of canister or grapeshot??

Some of the shots still retain that little tap from when they where cast.

Shown on attached images is only a small portion of the over 700 shots found so far. Many of the shots is only fragments or deformed on impact. Most of them is believed to have been shot from the castle at the besiegers. When i get a chance to examine the rest in the near future, i might post a update if something interesting is found.

Regards

Per Lillelund[/QUOTE]

Hi Per and a rather late welcome to the community!

My computer was down for some five weeks so I could not reply any earlier.

Personally I tend to believe that the smallest lead balls actually were used as shot, firing a number of them at once in order to increase the effect. On the other hand, small caliber arquebuses (handguns) of ca. 9-11 mm were quite commonly in use in the 15h and early 16th centuries. Haquebuts (hagebosse) normally had calibers ranging from ca. 20-30 mm. All the bigger caliber balls should be assigned to lighter pieces of cannon.

Do you have more images, and in what museum are the objects?

Please do keep us updated on this interesting but seldom documented topic!

Finally, like 'Nando, I 'd like to recommend the following related link:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13586

Best,
Michael

Per Lillelund Jensen · 10th June 2011, 08:23 PM

Hi Michael and thanks

Unfortunately i haven't had time yet to go and examine the rest of the found lead-balls, but these approx. 700 lead-shot is found this last year(2010) Last month another 60 was found. Apart from lead-balls, hundreds if not over a thousand other findings has turned up. Medieval coins, bronze seal (signet) and all kind of every day life objects. Surprisingly no crossbow bolt-heads has been found so far.

Some years ago, i found on the castle grounds some forgotten cannonballs, that amazingly enough have been lying arounds in the vegetation's since 1535. 2 large cast iron cannons balls and 2 stone balls. The largest of the stones and the largest of the iron-balls both are Kartove kloder/Karthunen with a diameter from 20- 25cm and the iron one weigh around 36kg

Its known from historical sources that the besiegers i 1535 had brought 10 kartover/karthunen with them from Copenhagen to blast the castle with.
And they did for several months. Near 2000 german landsknecth and an army of citizen and peasantry under the comand of Graf Johan von Hoya besieged it and tried to take with storm several times, all in vain. The castle was impregnable.

Most interesting is a Inventory of the castle the year after the siege (august 1536) when the king took control over the castle. It list all the various cannons (17) and 32 hagebøsser of various types.

Attached is a mid 17th.c illustration of the castle and some photos of the cannonballs.

I will return with more photos of the leadshot when i have them.

Best
Per

Per Lillelund Jensen · 11th June 2011, 08:45 AM

Ohe forgot to attach the image of the Castle.

Michael the lead balls are not residing in a permanent museum collection yet. they are for now stored at a local museum, who has to inspect them. But i hope the museum again turn most, if not all of them over to the castle again, to be displayed there.

Best

Per L

Matchlock · 11th June 2011, 06:06 PM

Thank you so much, Per!

Best,
Michael

10th June 2011, 08:23 PM	#2
Per Lillelund Jensen Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 5	Hi Michael and thanks Unfortunately i haven't had time yet to go and examine the rest of the found lead-balls, but these approx. 700 lead-shot is found this last year(2010) Last month another 60 was found. Apart from lead-balls, hundreds if not over a thousand other findings has turned up. Medieval coins, bronze seal (signet) and all kind of every day life objects. Surprisingly no crossbow bolt-heads has been found so far. Some years ago, i found on the castle grounds some forgotten cannonballs, that amazingly enough have been lying arounds in the vegetation's since 1535. 2 large cast iron cannons balls and 2 stone balls. The largest of the stones and the largest of the iron-balls both are Kartove kloder/Karthunen with a diameter from 20- 25cm and the iron one weigh around 36kg Its known from historical sources that the besiegers i 1535 had brought 10 kartover/karthunen with them from Copenhagen to blast the castle with. And they did for several months. Near 2000 german landsknecth and an army of citizen and peasantry under the comand of Graf Johan von Hoya besieged it and tried to take with storm several times, all in vain. The castle was impregnable. Most interesting is a Inventory of the castle the year after the siege (august 1536) when the king took control over the castle. It list all the various cannons (17) and 32 hagebøsser of various types. Attached is a mid 17th.c illustration of the castle and some photos of the cannonballs. I will return with more photos of the leadshot when i have them. Best Per Attached Images

11th June 2011, 08:45 AM	#3
Per Lillelund Jensen Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 5	Ohe forgot to attach the image of the Castle. Michael the lead balls are not residing in a permanent museum collection yet. they are for now stored at a local museum, who has to inspect them. But i hope the museum again turn most, if not all of them over to the castle again, to be displayed there. Best Per L Attached Images

21st May 2011, 06:11 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	[QUOTE=Per Lillelund Jensen Very interesting is the lead shots for small caliber cannons, with iron or stone core. With a cal. of 45-47mm. Hagebøsse/Hagenbusse shot in cal. from 10/11mm and up to 20/21mm. Some very small lead balls with a diameter from 6,3-9mm confuses me? could it be from some form of canister or grapeshot?? Some of the shots still retain that little tap from when they where cast. Shown on attached images is only a small portion of the over 700 shots found so far. Many of the shots is only fragments or deformed on impact. Most of them is believed to have been shot from the castle at the besiegers. When i get a chance to examine the rest in the near future, i might post a update if something interesting is found. Regards Per Lillelund[/QUOTE] Hi Per and a rather late welcome to the community! My computer was down for some five weeks so I could not reply any earlier. Personally I tend to believe that the smallest lead balls actually were used as shot, firing a number of them at once in order to increase the effect. On the other hand, small caliber arquebuses (handguns) of ca. 9-11 mm were quite commonly in use in the 15h and early 16th centuries. Haquebuts (hagebosse) normally had calibers ranging from ca. 20-30 mm. All the bigger caliber balls should be assigned to lighter pieces of cannon. Do you have more images, and in what museum are the objects? Please do keep us updated on this interesting but seldom documented topic! Finally, like 'Nando, I 'd like to recommend the following related link: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13586 Best, Michael

11th June 2011, 06:06 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you so much, Per! Best, Michael