Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Pre-1533 Nuremberg Snap-Tinderlock Arquebuses

Matchlock · 13th August 2014, 01:27 PM

http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/misfortune-bom-jesus-diamond-shipwreck-001731#!bCExlR

8 June, 2014 - 00:53

The Misfortune of the Bom Jesus,
the Diamond Shipwreck

The so-called Age of Discovery in Europe began in the early 15th century, and produced numerous well-known explorers such as Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Christopher Columbus. But there were countless others who lost their lives undertaking their perilous journeys, and as a result, became lost to the pages of history. Nevertheless, the discovery of shipwrecks, lying like skeletons on the ocean floor, resurrects the stories of these long-forgotten explorers, as researchers attempt to piece together the events of their voyage and the circumstances in which they met their final fate.

One such example is the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’.
This was a shipwreck discovered in the sands of the Sperrgebiet (meaning ‘Prohibited Area’ in German), which is the rich and off-limits De Beers diamond-mining lease near the mouth of the Orange River on Namibia’s southern coast.

In 2008, a company geologist working in the mining area U-60 came across what seemed to be a perfectly half sphere of rock. After picking up this rock and having a closer look at it, he realized that it was actually a copper ingot. On its weathered surface was a peculiar trident-shaped mark, which turned out to be the hallmark of Anton Fugger, one of Renaissance Europe’s wealthiest financiers.

The Diamond Shipwreck. Copyright: Amy Toensing

Archaeologists would eventually find an immense amount of these ingots beneath the sands (22 tonnes in total!), along with

weapons
(arquebuses and swords),
armor,
bronze cannons,
cannon balls,

pewter bowls, ivory tusks, and of course gold. The gold was in the form of coins, more than 2,000 in total, mainly Spanish excelentes bearing the likenesses of the monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, but also some Venetian, Moorish, French and other coinage. As the shipwreck was in the middle of one of the world’s most jealously guarded diamond mines, it is little wonder that its contents had been safe from treasure hunters all this time.

One of the coins uncovered in the Diamond Shipwreck. Copyright: Amy Toensing

More interestingly, for archaeologists at least, is the ship itself (along with some of the less sparkly artefacts). The ship itself is an East Indiaman from Portugal, and is dated to the 1530s. These were the ships used by traders during the Age of Discovery to bring exotic goods from Asia back to Europe, and brought great wealth to their respective nations. Despite the importance of these ships, there is much that is unknown about them, as the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’ is said to be only the second East Indiaman ever excavated by archaeologists. Therefore, this discovery will be able to give archaeologists new insights into the technical aspects of the ship, from its hull design, rigging, and even the way they evolved over time. Furthermore, as the cargo of this ship is intact, it enables archaeologists to piece together what life was like onboard a trading vessel, including the way food was cooked on the ship and the things that were brought by the explorers.

No story is complete, however, without actors. Based on the available clues, it has been suggested that the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’ was once a ship called the Bom Jesus (Good Jesus). This ship was captained by a Dom Francisco de Noronha, and carried around 300 sailors, soldiers, merchants, priests, nobles, and slaves.

There has also been some speculation about the fate of these men. For a start, the only human remains recovered from the wreck are several toe bones in a shoe found pinned beneath a mass of timbers. Furthermore, few personal belongings were among the artefacts. Thus, archaeologists believe that many on board the ship managed to make it to dry land. Nevertheless, the harsh conditions of the land may have killed them off, as it was a barren wasteland that stretched for hundreds of kilometres, and it was winter. On the brighter side, the Orange River lay about 25 kilometers to the south of the shipwreck, and the castaways may have made it there. Moreover, the Portuguese might have met natives, as winter was the season when indigenous tribes ventured along the shore in search of the carcasses of southern right whales that were occasionally washed ashore. In short, it appears that we will never know the final fate of these adventurers.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ****************************

While most people still seem to be interested in diamonds and gold most of all, dreaming their 'pirates' vision inspired dreams, my first thought was right away:

THE c. 1525 type NUREMBERG SNAP-TINDERLOCK ARQUEBUSES

that, among other goods, the Bom Jesus was taking to India!

Way before even taking a first glance at what actually turned out to be two stamp-size (!) printed photos, showing some details of an arquebus stock salvaged, I was well aware of the doubtless fact that the Nuremberg gunmakers guild was trying to sell off first, and especially overseas!, the remaining number of a technically outdated model of Landsknecht guns - rather than the latest stage of Nuremberg technologic evolution of mechanism (in terms of all mechanical parts being united on an iron! lock plate).

So I feel sufficiently sure to exactly predict what the mechanisms of the Bom Jesus arquebuses must have looked like - before even getting a glimpse of an actually salvaged specimen.
And mind you: At least a chest full of completely preserved arqebuses was found:

See attachments no. 2 and 3!

Best,
Michl/Michael

Michael Trömner
Rebenstr. 9
D-93326 Abensberg
Germany

Self-established Academic Medievalist

Graduated from Regensburg University in 1982

Stipendiary recipient and Member of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Bonn

Author of BEHÄLTNISSE FÜR KOSTBARES 1500-1700, 2005

Member of vikingsword.com, with more than 4.100 threads and posts since 2008

M. of the Arms & Armour Society, London since 1991
M. of the Gesellschaft für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde e.V., Berlin since 1987

Expertises in European weapons, ironworks and furniture of the 14th through 17th centuries

Preservation and scientific documentation of museum collections

13th August 2014, 01:27 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Pre-1533 Nuremberg Snap-Tinderlock Arquebuses - the REAL TREASURES of the BOM JESUS ! http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/misfortune-bom-jesus-diamond-shipwreck-001731#!bCExlR 8 June, 2014 - 00:53 The Misfortune of the Bom Jesus, the Diamond Shipwreck The so-called Age of Discovery in Europe began in the early 15th century, and produced numerous well-known explorers such as *Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Christopher Columbus. But there were countless others who lost their lives undertaking their perilous journeys, and as a result, became lost to the pages of history. Nevertheless, the discovery of shipwrecks, lying like skeletons on the ocean floor, resurrects the stories of these long-forgotten explorers, as researchers attempt to piece together the events of their voyage and the circumstances in which they met their final fate. One such example is the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’. This was a shipwreck discovered in the sands of the* Sperrgebiet (meaning ‘Prohibited Area’ in German), which is the rich and off-limits De Beers diamond-mining lease near the mouth of the Orange River on Namibia’s southern coast. In 2008, a company geologist working in the mining area U-60 came across what seemed to be a perfectly half sphere of rock. After picking up this rock and having a closer look at it, he realized that it was actually a copper ingot. On its weathered surface was a peculiar trident-shaped mark, which turned out to be the hallmark of Anton Fugger, one of Renaissance Europe’s wealthiest financiers. The Diamond Shipwreck. Copyright: Amy Toensing Archaeologists would eventually find an immense amount of these ingots beneath the sands (22 tonnes in total!), along with weapons (arquebuses and swords), armor, bronze cannons, cannon balls, pewter bowls, ivory tusks, and of course gold. The gold was in the form of coins, more than 2,000 in total, mainly Spanish excelentes bearing the likenesses of the monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, but also some Venetian, Moorish, French and other coinage. As the shipwreck was in the middle of one of the world’s most jealously guarded diamond mines, it is little wonder that its contents had been safe from treasure hunters all this time. One of the coins uncovered in the Diamond Shipwreck. Copyright: Amy Toensing More interestingly, for archaeologists at least, is the ship itself (along with some of the less sparkly artefacts). The ship itself is an East Indiaman from Portugal, and is dated to the 1530s. These were the ships used by traders during the Age of Discovery to bring exotic goods from Asia back to Europe, and brought great wealth to their respective nations. Despite the importance of these ships, there is much that is unknown about them, as the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’ is said to be only the second East Indiaman ever excavated by archaeologists. Therefore, this discovery will be able to give archaeologists new insights into the technical aspects of the ship, from its hull design, rigging, and even the way they evolved over time. Furthermore, as the cargo of this ship is intact, it enables archaeologists to piece together what life was like onboard a trading vessel, including the way food was cooked on the ship and the things that were brought by the explorers. No story is complete, however, without actors. Based on the available clues, it has been suggested that the ‘Diamond Shipwreck’ was once a ship called the Bom Jesus (Good Jesus). *This ship was captained by a Dom Francisco de Noronha, and carried around 300 sailors, soldiers, merchants, priests, nobles, and slaves.* There has also been some speculation about the fate of these men. For a start, the only human remains recovered from the wreck are several toe bones in a shoe found pinned beneath a mass of timbers. Furthermore, few personal belongings were among the artefacts. Thus, archaeologists believe that many on board the ship managed to make it to dry land. Nevertheless, the harsh conditions of the land may have killed them off, as it was a barren wasteland that stretched for hundreds of kilometres, and it was winter. On the brighter side, the Orange River lay about 25 kilometers to the south of the shipwreck, and the castaways may have made it there. Moreover, the Portuguese might have met natives, as winter was the season when indigenous tribes ventured along the shore in search of the carcasses of southern right whales that were occasionally washed ashore. In short, it appears that we will never know the final fate of these adventurers. ************************************************ ********************************************** ********************************************** ************************ While most people still seem to be interested in diamonds and gold most of all, dreaming their 'pirates' vision inspired dreams, my first thought was right away: THE c. 1525 type NUREMBERG SNAP-TINDERLOCK ARQUEBUSES** that, among other goods, the Bom Jesus was taking to India! Way before even taking a first glance at what actually turned out to be two stamp-size (!) printed photos, showing some details of an arquebus stock salvaged, I was well aware of the doubtless fact that the Nuremberg gunmakers guild was trying to sell off first, and especially overseas!, the remaining number of a technically outdated model of Landsknecht guns - rather than the latest stage of Nuremberg technologic evolution of mechanism (in terms of all mechanical parts being united on an iron! lock plate). So I feel sufficiently sure to exactly predict what the mechanisms of the Bom Jesus arquebuses must have looked like - before even getting a glimpse of an actually salvaged specimen. And mind you: At least a chest full of completely preserved arqebuses was found: See attachments no. 2 and 3! Best, Michl/Michael Michael Trömner Rebenstr. 9 D-93326 Abensberg Germany Self-established Academic Medievalist Graduated from Regensburg University in 1982 *Stipendiary recipient and Member of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Bonn* *Author of BEHÄLTNISSE FÜR KOSTBARES 1500-1700, 2005* *Member of vikingsword.com, with more than 4.100 threads and posts since 2008* *M. of the Arms & Armour Society, London since 1991* *M. of the Gesellschaft für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde e.V., Berlin since 1987* Expertises in European weapons, ironworks and furniture of the 14th through 17th centuries Preservation and scientific documentation of museum collections Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th August 2014 at 01:06 PM.