Already in the Crusader era there were probably something like hand grenades: investigations into the contents residues of small ceramic vessels from the Crusaders’ former Jerusalem palace district suggest that they contained explosive mixtures. The Islamic troops may have used these explosive weapons in the recapture of Jerusalem in 1187, the scientists say.
They are small, roundish and taper towards the bottom: Specimens of so-called “sphero-conical vessels” dating from the 9th to the 15th century have been discovered throughout the Near East. Apart from the basic form and the usually small size, they are known in many different versions: some appear simple and coarse, others are filigree and decorated. Experts already saw evidence that these vessels were used for different purposes and contents. Some were believed to contain simple substances while others contained luxurious ones. Historical records of small explosive weapons from the era also suggested that some sphero-conical vessels might have been filled with flammable concoctions and served as weapons.
Four sphero-conical vessels in sight
The scientists led by Carney Matheson from Griffith University in Brisbane have now devoted themselves to the task of using analytical methods to trace the contents of these containers. They worked on fragments of four different sphero-conical vessels that were found on the site of the Crusaders’ palace in Jerusalem. They come from a layer of rubble that is dated to between the 11th and 12th centuries. This is the era of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem, which the Crusaders established after conquering the city.
Three of the vessels seem to fit the upscale environment: They were elegantly designed and decorated. The fourth, on the other hand, looked coarse: compared to the others, it was unadorned and extremely thick-walled. In order to obtain information about what the vessels once contained, the researchers examined traces of residue on the inside of the shards using modern analysis methods.
The researchers report that they found traces of oils and other substances in the three more delicately designed sphero-conical vessels, suggesting that they once contained scented oils or substances used medicinally. In one they also found evidence that the openings of the vessels were once sealed with resin. In the case of the fourth specimen, however, the analyzes provided special findings: The chemical signatures of comparatively high amounts of sulfur and other “relevant” known substances were found.
Suspected explosive content
The mixture could theoretically also have been of a peaceful nature – but it probably wasn’t: in their combination, the detected substances could have resulted in an explosive mixture, the researchers report. They suspect that it was probably a mixture that was able to cause explosive effects even before the later black powder became widespread. As they explain, the coarse structure and simplicity of this special sphero-conical vessel also fits the possible use as a grenade.
According to the scientists, the finding supports the historical tradition that Islamic troops used thrown vessels against the Crusaders, which made loud noises and bright flashes of light. “Our study has shown the diverse uses of these unique ceramic vessels, which probably also included use as an explosive weapon,” summarizes Matheson. In the publication, the researchers write: “The archaeological context of the site as a royal palace is consistent with the presence of luxuries and medicines, and also with the shard of an explosive weapon. For it may have been used in the historical destruction of the royal palace”.
According to Matheson, however, further research is now needed: “Additional studies of these vessels and their potentially explosive contents could enable us in the future to understand explosive technology in the Middle Ages and the history of explosive weapons in the eastern Mediterranean,” concludes Matheson.
Source: Griffith University, professional article: PLOS ONE, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267350