An Initial Assessment of Lead Artefacts Used for Hull Repair and Maintenance on North Carolina Shipwreck 31CR314,Queen Anne's Revenge(1718)

Abstract

Excavation of North Carolina shipwreck 31CR314, Queen Anne's Revenge, has yielded an assemblage of sheet lead artefacts that reflect hull maintenance and repair practices on the slave ship, turned pirate flagship. This article will outline the different types of lead artefacts recovered from QAR associated with this function. The findings are discussed in relation to prevailing trends in hull sheathing from antiquity through to the mid 18th century. Last, the known history of hull repair on QAR is examined to place these objects in historical context.