The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 12/3/2016 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No12 Adam Park Report No: Report No.13 Artifact Type: Personal Kit Production Date: 2012-10-31 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 66mm x 49mm Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

Amongst the artefacts recovered on a previous survey at No.17 Adam Park was the end piece from a set of military binoculars. It was therefore encouraging to find a similar artifact at No.12 Adam Park. This piece of worked brass measures 66mm across, 49mm wide and made of 1mm thick metal plate. There is a round aperture 36.5mm in diameter. The unique shape clearly identifies it as part of an optical instrument; most likely binoculars. Unfortunately unlike the item found at No.17 Adam Park the artifact has not been embossed with any manufacturer details. Instead the only mark showing is a War Department’s broad arrow.

Historic Context:

The broad arrow frequently appeared on military boxes and equipment such as canteens, bayonets and rifles, as well as the British prison uniforms from the 1870s. The broad arrow marks were also used by Commonwealth countries on their ordnance. With the demise of the Board in 1855, the War Department and today's Ministry of Defence continued to use the mark. The arrow also appears in the Ordnance Survey logo. The mark therefore infers that the optical instrument was of government or military issue. As the houses were occupied by both military and civil engineers in the past it is impossible to state that the binoculars are directly connected to the Cambridgeshires or POWs.