Shears

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These iron shears were found on a crannog in Ashgrove Loch at Stevenston in Ayrshire, at the Roman fort of Newstead in Roxburghshire, and at Keiss Harbour Broch in Caithness. They were used to shear the wool from sheep.

All the shears are incomplete, but enough survives to determine their forms. Despite the difference in dates - the one on the left dates from the 12th or 13th century, the two on the right from the first two centuries AD - the forms are very similar.

The use of sheep for their wool began between 2500 and 2000 BC. At first the wool was plucked or the shed bits collected. Shears were introduced to clip the coats of improved breeds. The forms of shears changed little over the years.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-201-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HT 137
• Date: Between 0 and 200 AD; 12th or 13th century
  
• Material: Iron
  Iron
  Iron
  
• Dimensions: 6.13" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Ayrshire, Stevenston, Ashgrove Loch
  Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Iron shears from Newstead
  Iron shears from Newstead
  Pair of iron shears from Ashgrove Loch, Stevenston, Ayrshire
  
• References:
  • Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, p. 291, Pl. LXVIII, 5. 
• Translations:
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