It is broken, warped and considerably worn. If we found it on our desk, we might be tempted to throw it away.

However, the carpenter’s rule on display here is very significant as it has helped to pinpoint the provenance of a shipwreck – in terms of where the ship came from and when it sailed.

The instrument was recovered in 2006 from a shipwreck in the English Channel, one of hundreds that lie on the sea bed. A detailed analysis of the rule has revealed the wreck to be an English ship, dating it to the late 17th century. It was discovered during an extensive survey of the Western Approaches to the English Channel by Odyssey Marine Exploration, which explores wrecks all around the world. They delved down over 100m using their Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV) ZEUS.

The curator, Dr Stephen Johnston, closely examined the object, comparing it with similar instruments that have safer passages through time. He enthusiastically declared that following research, the fragment has helped to successfully identify and date the wreck.

To find out more about the display, please see further details about the exhibition in the accompanying leaflet.

Further details about the recovery of the rule and shipwrecks in general, see the features section of the Odyssey site.