Balls, Bullets & Bombs
The very beginning of a long-term project to create an evolution of the bullet timeline. Along the way, we will be taking a closer look at the balls, bullets and bombs we are recording during our historic landscape field surveys. The lead Detective in this munitions expose, is archaeologist Justin Russell
"Justin Russell lives in West Sussex and works as an archaeologist and illustrator with Historic Buildings Archaeology and Conservation (HBAC). His interests lie in military archaeology, particularly the study of small-arms ammunition. He helps to conserve and investigate the Steyning Rifle Range, holding an annual community excavation on the site, in conjunction with the Steyning Downland Scheme. Recent work includes the Langar Studded Shot project, (with the Field Detectives) and a study of the Manhood Peninsula Air to Ground Firing Range, near Selsey."
The Odd Shaped Bullets
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Justin Russell holding the type of Staudenmayer air rifle that fired the odd shaped bullets
The Field Detectives concluded their 6-year investigation into the mystery of the Langar Odd Balls, with a presentation of their findings at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on Wednesday 16th October 2024. You can catch it here on YouTube
Justin’s book on these ‘little understood’ lead projectiles will soon be available to purchase. More information to follow soon.
A poster was created to briefly summarise our research findings and you. Click here to view it
Over the next 6-12 months we will be curating the balls, bullets and bombs from our historic landscape field surveys that have been recorded since 1999. This collection will then form the basis for further investigation.
As always, we welcome anyone who would like to get involved.