Santa Margarita Sounding Lead 86.08.712

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This sturdy sounding plummet, or weight, from the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita served as a counterweight to guide a line down to the ocean floor. The distance the line traveled to reach the bottom provided critical information for the ship's navigator on how deep the water was, a crucial measurement for avoiding hazardous waters. The hollowed-out base of the plummet was designed to hold tallow or wax. Upon impact with the sea bed, the sticky substance would collect a sample of seabed material – either sand, pebbles, or shells (if it came up clean, the seabed was solid rock). This sample could be compared to records of seabed composition charted by earlier explorers, which helped establish the ship's precise location. Dimensions: 11.57 inches L x 1.89 inches W x 7.17 pounds