Find Spot MPM2083 - Cast iron smooth bore cannon, Portsmouth Harbour

Cannon dating to before 1670 recovered by divers from a barge in 2016 during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project in Portsmouth Harbour.

Cast iron smooth bore English cannon, probably three or four pounder, cast before 1670. Recovered by divers c.150m east of the floating breakwater at Gosport Marine. The cannon was thought to be an isolated find as it appeared to be exposed on the seabed and there was no evidence of any additional archaeological material in the area. The trunnions (mounting/pivoting point) were not visible and may have been fully or partially knocked off and the gun used as ballast. This gun may have been associated with another cannon (UID BWL1_0036, see MPM2084) recovered c.60m away a week later. See project report for detailed description.

UID: BWL1_0035 in Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project report.

Wessex Archaeology, 2018, Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SPM646.