from Newstead, Roxburghshire

Hammers, drift and anvil

These two hammers, drift and small iron anvil, all of iron, were found during excavations at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. They were used in a blacksmith's smiddy sometime between 80 and 100 AD.

The larger hammer is a forehammer or sledge hammer used for initial forging. The smaller hammer was a hand hammer for finer forging. The drift was used to make holes. The end of the small anvil, now broken, would have slotted into a wooden block.

Iron was widely used by the Romans for tools, weapons and fittings. Blacksmiths made a wide range of objects, using tools not that different from those in use today.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-190-004-199-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.FRA 310
Date:	Between 80 and 100 AD
Material:	Iron Iron Iron Iron; cross paned
Dimensions:	11.00" L
What:	Anvil Drift, smith's Hammer Hammer, smith's
Subject:
Who:	Newstead Collection Newstead Collection Newstead Collection Newstead Collection
Where:	Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
Event:
Description:	Large iron hammer from Newstead Smith's iron hammer from Newstead Smith's iron drift from Newstead Small iron anvil from Newstead
References:	Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, pp 285-6, Pl. LXIII, 1, 5, 7, 10.
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