Find Spot MPM2122 - Two iron cannonballs, Portsmouth Harbour

Two cast iron cannonballs recovered from Portsmouth Harbour during the Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project in 2016. Both cannonballs had a diameter of 124mm. One weighed 17lb the other 13.5lb. As the cannonballs were the same size and found in the same location it was suggested this may indicate that they were from the same vessel. However, a large number of cannonballs have been recovered from the harbour. The cannonballs were probably lost or discarded while a vessel was in the harbour. They dated to between the 16th and 18th century.

UID: BWL7_0003 and BWL7_0004 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Queen Elizabeth Class Capital Dredge Project Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document).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.