These brass ‘single-hander’ dividers, which were probably made in the Netherlands, were found in an enclosed area towards the bow of the Mary Rose in a fitted wooden case.
The presence of these, as well as other navigational equipment, tell us that the Pilot, or navigator, was considered important enough to warrant his own cabin. Although they also suggest the use of charts (none were found, although some rods have been claimed to be “chart sticks” – rods used to weight the ends of the charts down), it does not mean they were in use at the time of the Mary Rose’s sinking. In Tudor times, coastal navigation was based on visual cues, charts being used either for general reference or as a symbol of prestige