Examination of a moulding plane blade from Vindolanda
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Published
Jan 1, 2022
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the use of the carpenter’s plane in Roman civilization. A general review is made of the planes and plane irons which are known in the archaeological record. Metallographic examination is made of a Roman moulding plane blade found at Vindolanda, on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland (NGR: NY7766). The blade was made of a laminar structure of steel and iron. The cutting edge was left unhardened, which would have made it easy to shape and maintain, whilst being hard enough to create the fine mouldings such as are found on the Roman furniture uncovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum.
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References
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Blake J 1999, The small finds, fascicule III: The tools (Greenhead: Vindolanda Research Reports, New Series IV).
Burstall A F 1963, A history of mechanical engineering (London).
Curle J 1911, A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead in the parish of Melrose (Glasgow).
Goodman W L 1964, The history of woodworking tools (London).
Greber J M 1956, Die Geschichte des Hobels [The history of the woodworking plane] (Zurich). Reprinted Verlag Th Schäfer, Hanover, 1987; Translated by S W Burchard and published (in English) by the Early American Industries Association (London), 1991.
Mercer H C 1929, Ancient carpenters’ tools (Doylestown, Pennsylvania).
Mols S T A M 1988, Wooden furniture in Herculaneum: form, technique and function (Amsterdam).
Petrie W M F 1917, Tools and weapons (London): Egypt Research Account and British School of Archaeology in Egypt publication 30.
Sim D N 1998, Beyond the bloom—bloom refining and iron artefact production in the Roman world (edited I M L Ridge) (Oxford: BAR International series 725).
Tylecote R F and Gilmour B J J 1986, The metallography of early ferrous edge tools and edged weapons (Oxford: BAR British series 155).
How to Cite
Examination of a moulding plane blade from Vindolanda. (2022). Historical Metallurgy, 34(2), 77-82. https://www.hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/287
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How to Cite
Examination of a moulding plane blade from Vindolanda. (2022). Historical Metallurgy, 34(2), 77-82. https://www.hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/287