The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 13/05/005, 13/07/008 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No 13 & 14 Adam Park Report No: Report No.21 Artifact Type: Ammunition Production Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 36mm dia Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

The caps, items 13/05/05 and 13/07/08 are 36mm in diameter at the widest point and 21mm deep. The upper surface is machined at the edges and has a central indentation which has the remains of the percussion explosive within it. It also has two semi circular indents adjacent to each other on the edge of the cap that would have taken a turning key. Each item had traces of a white sealant a around the upper screw thread on the neck of the cap approximately 6mm of thread. After careful cleaning item 13/05/05 revealed the ‘KF’ ‘↑ and ‘41’ on the upper surface. Item 13/07/08 bore the text ‘RY9 -40’ and ‘No 1’as well as some more unreadable characters.

Historic Context:

It transpires that these items are Mk 1 percussion caps used in many British shells but no evidence to say they were used as the base detonators for mortars. Why they should be found on site is still a mystery.