Missile

This carved stone ball was found at Cronie Farm at Kirkpatrick Durham in Dumfries and Galloway. It was probably used as a missile in the 15th or 16th century.

The ball has been carved with 40 facets.

Carved stone balls without any decoration are difficult to date or to be certain of their function. Those which are very regular spheres around 60 mm in diameter, sometimes with fine pecking marks all over or with evidence of heating, are most likely to have been missiles. They were used in anti-personnel artillery guns called 'cut-throats' or 'bersis' mainly in the 15th and 16th century AD.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-180-001-717-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.NS 42
Date:	Probably 15th or 16th century
Material:	Stone
Dimensions:	2.75" D
What:	Ball
Subject:	Sports (NMAS Classification)
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Kirkpatrick Durham, Cronie Farm
Event:
Description:	Stone ball with 40 facets, from Cronie Farm, Kirkpatrick Durham
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