THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE OF ERGEME
Weapons and armaments
It is known from the documents that around 1563 a garrison of the Polish king comprising of about 200 soldiers settled in Ergeme Castle. The audit of 1624 listed 17 hand cannons, half a barrel of powder, 10 pots of musket balls and other ammunition that were stored in the Castle. The presence of soldiers in the Castle is confirmed by the fragments of firearms and lead and iron balls found therein. Two of the iron balls found in the Castle weigh 28 kilograms, but the smallest lead balls weigh 5 grams. One Ergeme's hunting weapon was decorated with a bronze cladding depicting a hunting scene. The use of crossbows is suggested by the arrowheads found and several discovered iron plates that could be armour parts.
Lead balls
Iron ball (28 kg)
Figural bronze cladding with a hunting scene
Iron part of a musket ignition mechanism
Iron part of a musket ignition mechanism
Iron sear of a musket
Fragments of iron armour plate with a diamond-shaped cut-outs
Iron sleeve - (musket fork rest head?)
Iron arrowhead of a crossbow
Fragment of an iron ball
Fragment of an iron barrel,
with a thread inside and
a master mark
Photographed by Jānis Puķītis
Iron arrowhead with
a thickened transition and
a diamond-shaped leaf
Photographed by Jānis Puķītis
Iron attachment to
the cleaning rod
Photographed by
Jānis Puķītis
Fragment of an iron armour glove
