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Anvil and pick

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From Blackburn Mill, near Cockburnspath, Berwickshire

Postcard of Anvil and pick.
000-100-034-895-C
© National Museums Scotland

Anvil and pick

This small iron anvil, pictured on the left, and iron pick were found at Blackburn Mill near Cockburnspath in Berwickshire in a large hoard of Roman and native metalwork buried within two bronze cauldrons. Both the anvil and pick are Roman types.

The anvil is sometimes called a 'mower's anvil', since it was carried by harvesters, and used to sharpen their tools. The sharp end was driven into the ground. A strip of iron was inserted through the holes to prevent the anvil from embedding too deeply.

The Blackburn Mill hoard contained over 65 objects, mainly agricultural tools, deposited in two bronze cauldrons in an area which probably was an ancient lake. The objects are of both Roman and native origin, probably buried as a gift to the gods.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-100-034-895-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DW 102
Date: Between 80 and 200 AD
Material: Iron
Iron
Dimensions:
What: Anvil, mower's
Pick
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Berwickshire, Cockburnspath, Blackburn Mill
Scotland, Berwickshire, Cockburnspath, Blackburn Mill
Event:
Description: Mower's iron anvil from Blackburn Mill
Iron pick from Blackburn Mill
References:
Translations:
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