ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 9

Surface Analysis of a Musket Shot Dated Between 1645 and 1655 Found in Historic St. Mary's City, Maryland
Stacy, CC
presently, staff pathologist, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, CO

Miller, HM
Chief archeologist, MD

Froede, RC
Armed Forces medical examiner and distinguished scientist, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC

(Received 3 July 1989; accepted 11 July 1989)

Abstract

A number of large lead musket shot have been found in the Pope's fort site at historic St. Mary's City in Maryland. These collected shot have been dated to the period from 1645 to 1655 by Dr. Henry Miller. One of these musket shot has an interesting flattened configuration and appears as if it hit a very solid object. The impact surface has been examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectrophotometry (EDS). The results of these examinations have been compared with examinations of bone and an oyster shell of the same age found at the site. The findings are consistent with the impact site containing sand and probably also bone.

Keywords:
forensic science, Last Word Society, archaeology, historical background, muskets, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometry, Maryland, colonial St. Mary's City

Paper ID: JFS12884J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12884J
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