Accession Number

1986.008.2097b

Creation Date

circa 1700

Description

Rope thimble fragment from cargo hook. See also 1986.008.2097a, .2097c.
Boat hooks and cargo hooks were and still are a common find on ships. They are used to lift and move food stores, trade goods, and equipment on and off of the ship. They came in a variety of different sizes for their various different uses. Cargo hooks were attached to ropes using a thimble that reduced chaffing on the rope, while boat hooks would have been placed on the end of a pole.