Another cannon ... this time a noise maker

[fernando]

I have already shown this one, when it was still for sale.
The seller made a significant reduction on the price, so i decided to bring it
in, to join the others
Beautiful bronze patina. The guy says XV century, but i don't know ... Michael, what do you say ? .
It must have had a lot of action; the touch hole is rather torn and the base rim is greatly curved in ... i ignore what kind of endurance caused it, though.
Amazingly there is a couple 2,5 mm orifices in the base (one went through all material) apparently made with a (modern) drill. The last time i saw this type of drills in ancient stuff, was at a local museum, done in some very early bronze axes; i think the museum specialists do this for testing (the age?) of specimens.
I still give full freedom to my imagination to place these signal cannons (mortars) in their correct time and function. I know that the (discoveries period) ships used to signal one eachother to maintain their proximity and also to give manouver instructions; but apparently (the ones i have read about, so far) used real cannonry to transmit such signs.
An example that was recorded was that of Vasco da Gama, on what concerns sailing instructions to the other fleet ships: One shot was for continuing, two was for turning, three to hoist the 'moneta' (an extra speed sail appendix) and four to slow down.
Any member has recordings on this subject?
Thanks for your kind coments.
Fernando

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