Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries 3-1 (November 2011)Marloes J.
Rijkelijkhuizen: Bone telescopes from Amsterdam
5.1 The bone telescopes
Three almost complete telescopes (fig. 2, 4, and 7) and two fragments of telescopes were found in excavations in Amsterdam. The fragments found in Amsterdam could be identified as telescopes by comparing them with the nearly complete bone telescopes (Rijkelijkhuizen 2004). Four of the telescopes consist of a single part. The length of these four telescopes is between 79.7 and 89.6 mm. The largest diameter measures approximately 24 mm. The fifth telescope is made from two parts, which are fixed together with a screw-thread. The total length of this telescope is 138.7 mm; the lengths of the individual parts are 68.9 and 76.7 mm. The largest diameter of the bone tube is about 25.5 mm.
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Figure 2 Bone telescope with view of the lens (VIN9-1). Collection: Bureau Monumenten & Archeologie (BMA), Photo: Wiard Krook, BMA.
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Figure 3 The Dutch/Galilean and the Keplerian/astronomical system.
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Figure 4 Bone telescope (A-448). Collection: BMA, Photo: Wiard Krook, BMA.
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Figure 5 Marrow cavity is visible on one of the telescopes. Collection: BMA, Photo:Marloes Rijkelijkhuizen.
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Figure 6 Cross-section of a bone telescope.
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Figure 7 Telescope made of two parts, with view of one of the lenses and the aperture (SIN1-4). Collection: BMA, Photo: Wiard Krook, BMA.
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Two of the telescopes were recovered from cesspits and could be dated to the 18th century. One was found in a cesspit in the Vinkenstraat and is dated between 1725 and 1775 (VIN9-1); the other was excavated in the Korte Houtstraat, near the Waterlooplein, and is dated between 1725 and 1750 (WLO-179-12). The other three have no clear context (A-448, SIN1-4, VARA-6-3), but the similarity in their appearance suggests that these also date to the 18th century.
