Mallet

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This wooden mallet, made of holly wood, was found at Buiston Crannog in Ayrshire. It was probably used for splitting wood and a variety of other tasks requiring something to be knocked, sometime between 585 and 630.

The mallet is made from a a large branch of holly (for the head) and a small attached side branch (for the handle). It is cracked and broken in places, but otherwise remarkably well preserved. In form it differs little from modern examples.

Wood was very important as a resource at the crannog (lake settlement) at Buiston. The structures were all made of wood, and many wooden objects were used by its inhabitants. Holly is a resilient wood, excellent for making objects such as mallets.

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-188-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.1997.150
• Date: 585 - 630 AD
  Between 585 and 630
  
• Material: Wood, holly
  
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• Where: Scotland, Ayrshire, Buiston Crannog
  
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• Description: Mallet of holly wood from Buiston Crannog, Ayrshire, 585 - 630 AD
  
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