from Newstead, Roxburghshire
Add to albumThese two hammers, drift and small iron anvil, all of iron, were found during excavations at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. They were used in a blacksmith's smiddy sometime between 80 and 100 AD.
The larger hammer is a forehammer or sledge hammer used for initial forging. The smaller hammer was a hand hammer for finer forging. The drift was used to make holes. The end of the small anvil, now broken, would have slotted into a wooden block.
Iron was widely used by the Romans for tools, weapons and fittings. Blacksmiths made a wide range of objects, using tools not that different from those in use today.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-190-004-199-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.FRA 310
- Date: Between 80 and 100 AD
- Material: Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron; cross paned
Anvil
Drift, smith's
Hammer
Hammer, smith's
- Dimensions: 11.00" L
- What: Anvil
Drift, smith's
Hammer
Hammer, smith's
- Subject:
- Who: Newstead Collection
Newstead Collection
Newstead Collection
Newstead Collection
- Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
- Event:
- Description: Large iron hammer from Newstead
Smith's iron hammer from Newstead
Smith's iron drift from Newstead
Small iron anvil from Newstead
- References:
- Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, pp 285-6, Pl. LXIII, 1, 5, 7, 10.
- Translations:
- Related Records: