Re: Stone Shifting 3 | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

FourWinds Sep 2, 2003 06:42:18

Replying to Steve Gray

"... but bronze is more versatile and they might have had chisels, adzes, or even saws and drills."

Axes definitely. Chisels I think so. Adzes possibly. I don't think any bronze saws or drills have been found though, certainly not from 2500 bce. Planks recovered from this time are split and drills where probably stone tipped.

Within the next two weeks I am visiting the museum in Longford where they have a stretch of Bronze Age 'togher' (wooden road across a bog) preserved. I'll have a good look at the construction methods used there. Obviously it won't tell us what they could have done in 2500 bce, but it will tell us what the couldn't do in 200 bce.

GordonP Sep 2, 2003 07:24:45

Replying to FourWinds

Health and Safety. Re Lever platforms.

According to my sketchy knowledge of building site regs, platforms under 6m high are free of regs.

Can anyone confirm

nigelswift Sep 2, 2003 09:14:17

Replying to FourWinds

Steve, if the thought behind your question was whether we’d be criticized for using modern tools I think it’s unlikely as it’s always accepted they were very sophisticated carpenters, on the basis of the carpentry techniques used on the lintels.
I have a flint drill bit that I found on the route of the stones outside Avebury, that’s perfectly efficient and leaves holes indistinguishable from a Black and Decker. I’ll let Gordon have it if he wants, and he can mount it on a handle and get a photo-opportunity using it on the day.