Anvil and pick

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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: 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
  Anvil, mower's
  Pick
  
• 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:
  • Piggott, S. Three metalwork hoards of the Roman period. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 87 (1952-3), 1-50.
• Translations:
• Related Records: