|
Volume 12 Number 2/3
October, 1996 |
 Found Objects |
|
| Thermometer, broken (TIGHAR Artifact 2-2-G-5) |
| Date Found: |
October 1991 during TIGHAR’s NIKU II expedition. |
 |
| Description: |
This is a clear glass rod 2 and 5/8 inches in length with a diameter of 5/32
inch. One end has a formed right-angle hook 1/16 inch in length. The rod is
triangular in cross-section and appears to be constructed of two bonded, concentric
layers with a white opaque band imbedded between the layers along one side
of the triangle. A minute (less than pin-hole sized) opening runs the length
of the rod at its approximate center and terminates in a bulb at the hooked
end. |
| Condition: |
The rod is broken at both ends. No trace of markings or gradations are visible
on the white band or the rod. The external surface of the glass is smooth and
shows no sign of abrasion. There is a trace of foreign material at the straight
break and a few flecks have found there way into the central tube to a depth
of about 5mm. |
| Identification: |
The object is clearly a thermometer of some kind. |
| Commentary: |
No match has been found to any specific type of thermometer. The hook at
the end is particularly puzzling. Thermometers are easily broken, but this
one is broken at both ends. How did that happen? The glass shows no sign of
having been tumbled about on the rough coral as one might expect if it had
been washed ashore from the lagoon. But if it was simply dropped, where is
the rest of it? And how did foreign material get 5mm down into the central
tube? |
|
|
