Adze, plumb bob and pick

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This iron adze and pick, both mounted on modern handles, and stone plumb bob (with modern string) were found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. They were used between 80 and 180 AD, possibly in stoneworking.

These tools differ little from modern examples.

Although there is no direct evidence from Britain, it is likely that picks such as this one would have been used with wedges when quarrying stone. The adze would have been used to dress the stone before it was chiselled and smoothed.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-907-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 233, X.FRA 234, X.FRB 592
• Date: Between 80 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Iron
  Sandstone
  Adze
  Pick-adze
  Plumb bob
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Adze
  Pick-adze
  Plumb bob
  
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Mumrills, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, EUROPE
  Newstead, Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland, EUROPE
  
• Event:
• Description: Adze of iron, double-bladed and mounted on modern handle, found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead, Roxburghshire, 80 - 180 AD
  Pick-adze of iron, mounted on modern handle, found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead, Roxburghshire, 80 - 180 AD
  Plumb bob of grey sandstone, conical with a modern string, excavated at the Roman fort at Mumrills, Stirlingshire, 140 - 165 AD
  
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Breeze, D.J., and Mackay, G. The Romans in Scotland. An introduction to the collections of the National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, 1980, pp 65-6. 
• Translations:
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