Analysis of bronze lantaka from beach in northern Australia

[Smithbrown]

Update on new work done on the bronze breechloading gun founs a few years ago in northern Australia: Cannon hints at earlier European arrival in Australia | GlobalPost

 

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[Mackaydon]

A story about a found cannon --yet without a picture--took the wind out of my sails.
Don.....

 

[Smithbrown]

There's a good picture of it (with added human scale) here:
Bronze gun found on beach near Darwin is 250 years old, tests show | World news | theguardian.com

 

[Mackaydon]

Thanks; interesting breech loader.
Don....

 

[Jolly Mon]

I believe this is the gun described in the story, but I could be wrong:





OOPS...didn't realize a link had been posted.

 

[Smithbrown]

You just made it easier for everyone to see the cannon properly, no need to worry.

 

[MORE AND BEYOND OSSY]

Gday Smithbrown. Have a look at the second cannon which was also found in Darwin, I would like your thoughts. Evidence Dundee swivel gun came from Spain - ABC Darwin - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Cheers, Ossy

 

[Smithbrown]

That's a much more common type of lantaka. Most of the examples I have seen are in European museums and were traded or captured in colonial times. They seem to have been widespread around south-east Asia. I have examples recorded from Indonesia, Malaya, Brunei, Philippines, East Timur. There are always a large number floating round the internet, often described as Portuguese or Dutch rail-guns, often described as from a wreck in the Spice islands.

The characteristics of the guns which shows they are Asian rather than European are (starting at the muzzle) the flared trumpet -shaped muzzle with prominent sight; the two round bands at the muzzle neck; the bronze swivel yoke; the prominent "knob-sight"; hinges for a vent cover; the hollow cascable for the insertion of a tiller.

They are often, like this one, with the rear-half of the barrel facetted with triangular decoration on the facets and rounded in the front half. Some are facetted the whole length and some have twisted decoration on the barrels like candy sticks.

But again, not Portuguese, not 16th century.

 

[Smithbrown]

This is a very thorough report on the Dundee Beach piece: http://www.pastmasters.org.au/uploads/2/6/7/5/26751978/dundee_swivel_gun_provenance__rpt_final.pdf

 

[Smithbrown]

And here's what a proper 16th century Portuguese swivel gun should look like: http://www1.museo.depo.es/imagenesarticulos/falconetes/Artilleria_%20Bronce_%20Museo_%20Pontevedra.pdf

 

[BVI Hunter]

The Archaeology News Network: 250 years old Portuguese cannon found on northern Australian beach

 

[Smithbrown]

One of the differences is that no child could hoist a proper 16th century Portuguese swivel gun over his shoulder- they are too large and heavy- some are very large indeed!

 

[Alexandre]

There are documented types that should be as portable. None has yet survived in the archaeological record.

 

[ARC]

The types of cannon reach far beyond archival documentation.
I think every year one or more is found that have never been found before.

 

[Smithbrown]

But they do have characteristics which help you identify them. The details on this gun show that it is not Portuguese and not 16th century. On the other hand it does bear very close similarities to Asian Lantakas. In this case it is not the short length that is important but the very small calibre and the very light weight.