Hazards of archaeology - yes, to life and limb!

Posted by Inby from sdn-ar-001waseatP199.dialsprint.net (168.191.230.111) on Friday, May 10, 2002 at 2:01pm :

Thought you archaeology types out there (Michaelson, etc.) would appreciate the warning!
======================================================
Ancient Cannonballs Come to Life with a Bang
Thu May 9,10:43 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Cannon balls retrieved from ancient shipwrecks are
wreaking thunderous havoc centuries later -- by exploding on the desks
of
archaeologists, New Scientist magazine said Wednesday.

Robert Child, of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales in
Cardiff,
told the magazine that he had recorded several instances where the old
rusted balls of metal started to heat up and turn red, or explode after
being exposed to oxygen.

In one case, a ball retrieved from a 1691 wreck heated up to a few
hundred
degrees after several minutes in the open air, began to glow a dull red
and
started burning its way through the pine table.

"There was smoke coming off the bench," he told the magazine.

Child said in several cases the prized artifacts had split open many
weeks
after they were pulled from the sea.

He said the explosions happened because the balls had developed a
lattice-like porous structure over hundreds of years that reacted with
oxygen to produce massive amounts of heat.

The combination of oxygen and sea salt caused rapid oxidation resulting
in
the balls "exploding" open and crumbling into bits.

--------------------------
(sent to acra-l by)
R. Joe Brandon
Director of Archaeology
Hardlines Design Company
4608 Indianola Ave
Columbus, Oh 43214
614-784-8733 (phone)
614-783-8202 (cell)
614-784-9336 (fax)

www.hardlinesdesign.com

Follow Ups:

Yikes! - Michaelson 2:10pm 05/10/2002

As long as the HMO doesn't send you to a 1691 surgeon... - graml 2:56pm 05/10/2002

Re: As long as the HMO doesn't send you to a 1691 surgeon... - Michaelson 12:05pm 05/13/2002

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: Thought you archaeology types out there (Michaelson, etc.) would appreciate the warning! : ====================================================== : Ancient Cannonballs Come to Life with a Bang : Thu May 9,10:43 AM ET : LONDON (Reuters) - Cannon balls retrieved from ancient shipwrecks are : wreaking thunderous havoc centuries later -- by exploding on the desks : of : archaeologists, New Scientist magazine said Wednesday. : Robert Child, of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales in : Cardiff, : told the magazine that he had recorded several instances where the old : rusted balls of metal started to heat up and turn red, or explode after : being exposed to oxygen. : In one case, a ball retrieved from a 1691 wreck heated up to a few : hundred : degrees after several minutes in the open air, began to glow a dull red : and : started burning its way through the pine table. : "There was smoke coming off the bench," he told the magazine. : Child said in several cases the prized artifacts had split open many : weeks : after they were pulled from the sea. : He said the explosions happened because the balls had developed a : lattice-like porous structure over hundreds of years that reacted with : oxygen to produce massive amounts of heat. : The combination of oxygen and sea salt caused rapid oxidation resulting : in : the balls "exploding" open and crumbling into bits. : -------------------------- : (sent to acra-l by) : R. Joe Brandon : Director of Archaeology : Hardlines Design Company : 4608 Indianola Ave : Columbus, Oh 43214 : 614-784-8733 (phone) : 614-783-8202 (cell) : 614-784-9336 (fax) : www.hardlinesdesign.com

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