The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 02/04/009 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No.2 Adam Park Report No: Report No.6 Artifact Type: Toy Production Date: 0012-12-11 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 70mm x 10mm Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

This figure appears to be lying prone firing his weapon and is wearing a short tunic, breeches and a set of puttees. The only piece of equipment appears to be under the right arm possibly a canteen and the stock of the gun. The figure has no cross belts or webbing which may suggest that this is not a British soldier who typically wore some kind of webbing. The figure is a pale khaki all over. On the base of the figure are the letters ‘...CTORS’ and underneath ‘LAND’ suggesting it came from a European manufacturer possibly England, and under this the word ‘COPYRIGHT’

Historic Context:

Perhaps the most poignant and ironic find was a lead toy soldier. Hollow cast toy soldiers such as this are cast in metal, usually an alloy, which cools and sets first where it touches the mould, the excess molten metal is then poured out leaving a hollow figure. Pioneered by BRITAINS in the UK in 1893 they were much cheaper than the solid figures imported from Germany. The figure has a short tunic and puttees but most notably no crossbelts or webbing. The nearest match for such a uniform is that worn by the Japanese soldiers