A 15th-Century Wreck of an Ordnance-Carrying Ship from Atlit North Bay, Israel

In 1977, a shipwreck assemblage was discovered off Atlit, Israel. Finds included three iron anchors, a large bombard, four swivel guns, stone and lead shot, and bronze helmets. The bronze bombard (2210kg, 3.247m long) contained a wooden wad and remnants of what may have been gunpowder. The swivel guns (each 185kg) were bronze, with swivels and the tillers of iron. Twenty (or 21) bronze helmets were recovered. The findings provide rare evidence for the mounting of heavy ordnance on the bow of a galley or ship in the 15th century.