Stone Ball for comments

TheCollector · 28th July 2022, 09:32 PM

Hi group , thankyou for allowing me to join this excellent forum ,

question.

what do I have here , granite/stone cannonball?
Hand tooling marks , heavy , almost perfect sphere
Approx 12 inches overall diameter,
No previous history known of this object,

Comments good or bad most welcome

fernando · 28th July 2022, 10:21 PM

Welcome to the forum, 'collector. Are you sure that ball has a 12 inches diameter. Maybe you mean perimeter ?
My stone balls have circa 7 1/2 inches diameter and no way i could fit them inside the palm of my hand

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... Or am i missing something ?

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TheCollector · 28th July 2022, 11:05 PM

Thanks for the reply , yes overall diameter with tape measure wrapped around ball

Rick · 29th July 2022, 02:09 AM

I think you mean circumference.

Philip · 29th July 2022, 06:32 AM

Could it also be a catapult projectile as well as a cannonball? The use of mechanical artillery and cannons did overlap for awhile in the late Middle Ages. Or the sphere could be a lot older than that and possibly date from Byzantine or Roman times...

kronckew · 29th July 2022, 08:25 AM

What is its backstory? Where did you get it, what were you told about it by the vendor, where are you now? Can you tell what kind of rock it is made from? Provenance is everything.

C=πD (or 2πr), Pi (π) =3.141592654... so

13=3.14159 D
D=13/3,14159=4.138 inches.

I can buy stone spheres made as modern decorative garden ornaments in various sizes. Caveat Emptor.

broadaxe · 1st August 2022, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip

Could it also be a catapult projectile as well as a cannonball? The use of mechanical artillery and cannons did overlap for awhile in the late Middle Ages. Or the sphere could be a lot older than that and possibly date from Byzantine or Roman times...

Catapult projectiles are much less dressed, they show lots of dimples and bumps, as they don't have to go through a barrel.

28th July 2022, 09:32 PM	#1
TheCollector Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 5	Stone Ball for comments Hi group , thankyou for allowing me to join this excellent forum , question. what do I have here , granite/stone cannonball? Hand tooling marks , heavy , almost perfect sphere Approx 12 inches overall diameter, No previous history known of this object, Comments good or bad most welcome Attached Images

28th July 2022, 10:21 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,644	Welcome to the forum, 'collector. Are you sure that ball has a 12 inches diameter. Maybe you mean perimeter ? My stone balls have circa 7 1/2 inches diameter and no way i could fit them inside the palm of my hand . ... Or am i missing something ? . . Attached Images

28th July 2022, 11:05 PM	#3
TheCollector Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 5	Thanks for the reply , yes overall diameter with tape measure wrapped around ball Attached Images

29th July 2022, 08:25 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	What is its backstory? Where did you get it, what were you told about it by the vendor, where are you now? Can you tell what kind of rock it is made from? Provenance is everything. C=πD (or 2πr), Pi (π) =3.141592654... so 13=3.14159 D D=13/3,14159=4.138 inches. I can buy stone spheres made as modern decorative garden ornaments in various sizes. Caveat Emptor. Last edited by kronckew; 29th July 2022 at 08:51 AM.

29th July 2022, 02:09 AM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,264	I think you mean circumference.

29th July 2022, 06:32 AM	#5
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Could it also be a catapult projectile as well as a cannonball? The use of mechanical artillery and cannons did overlap for awhile in the late Middle Ages. Or the sphere could be a lot older than that and possibly date from Byzantine or Roman times...