Roughout for cup

This roughout for a wooden cup was found in a peat bog at Watten in Caithness. It represents the first stage in creating a wooden cup. The roughout was made sometime between 170 BC and 30 AD.

The wood is probably alder. It has split and warped as the wood dried out. The roughout was made by splitting a segment off a narrow trunk or branch of alder. A vertical handle has been made and the interior hollowing had been started.

The roughout may have been put in a wet place to make the wood easier to work. Alder is hard to work, as it splits easily.

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