ThomasPowers Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 On the BBC web site: "Archaeologists on the Orkney island of Rousay have uncovered the preserved handprint of a Pictish metalsmith. They found the print on a stone anvil excavated from a substantial Iron Age settlement. It is believed to be at least 1,000 years old." www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-44945772 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwistedCustoms Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Thanks for that, great article and a very cool anvil! I also like the notion of forging underground. Very Dwarven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 but how old was the stone? yes we likes to forge underground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 59 minutes ago, the iron dwarf said: but how old was the stone? A couple hundred million years by the looks of it though I'd need to take some samples to be more sure. Oh and it still IS that old, a couple hours or even days doesn't matter to a stone. I think it's interesting the assumption made abut the shop being underground. A curved entrance is common in cold climates, especially steps leading upwards though the brief article posted didn't say up or down. Light can be blocked by a curtain. Heck, is it even an anvil? Thinking now on the fact Dwarves prefer their forges underground I'm thinking those are Dwarvish hammers and the anvil is a little deeper still. Or is it Pictish blacksmithing tradition to hold onto the anvil while they work? Okay, funnin aside it looks like a cool find, I'll have to see if there's more online. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 I'd like to know if it was locally sourced or imported and the exact type of stone it is. Hopefully they will do some testing on it to see what metals were worked on it. The important details. Iron Dwarf---I didn't know they would let you forge on the underground! Lots of stairs to carry your anvil up and down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Wonder if That smith got yelled at for leaving dirty handprints everywhere too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Stone anvils and stone hammers still in use today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Some of the Neo-tribal metalsmiths here in the USA were using stone anvils back 15 years or so ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Could be an alien smithy - I'm seeing five fingers and a thumb in the print. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Island populations tend to get like small Arkansas hill towns...However it could have been Tyrone Rugen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Not the anvil I would have Pict, but okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 I'd say something about "casting stones" but that would be foundry work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Hammer Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 The poor striker must have some terrible back pain dropping that stone hammer like he does. As a flintknapper I can appreciate the use of stone tools. Reminds me of the indian artifact called a spud. Hmmmm, makes me wonder if the American spuds were used for copper forging? They've always been considered a ceremonial item, but the resemblance to what the natives were using is striking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Very interesting possible correlation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 In archeology, “ ceremonial item” equates to, “we don’t understand this yet,” more often than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanglediver Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 What kind of dirty hand print withstands centuries of weathering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 No weathering if it’s buried in situ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 13 hours ago, BIGGUNDOCTOR said: Stone anvils and stone hammers still in use today Those videos of primitive forging are always fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Perfectly adapted to the culture and the need, it is admirable and frightening. What I could do without, is the laconic comments of a person who is adamant in telling the viewer that that is the best way ever. I must be doing something wrong for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 17 minutes ago, Marc1 said: I must be doing something wrong for sure. Of course you are, we all are. I stopped caring, I just try something else till it works. Easy peasy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 I am considered hard headed, but if your gripping the edge of your anvil with both hands and getting work done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 "What kind of dirty hand print withstands centuries of weathering?" Soot will generally be around close to forever especially if protected from active weathering and for some reason is not unknow in smithies not using gas or induction forges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Hammer Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 The Native Americans created hand prints on rock formations with ochres and charcoal that have lasted thousands of years. They survive best in the western desert regions. Given the right conditions, they do well. Not sure a sea shore site is the ideal conditions, but archaeologists are pretty particular about contaminating sites so I don't think the hand print would have been caused by them, but you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 21 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: However it could have been Tyrone Rugen.... Yes, but would he lower himself to such a sooty, begriming task as making his own sword? Inconceivable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 33 minutes ago, John in Oly, WA said: Yes, but would he lower himself to such a sooty, begriming task as making his own sword? Inconceivable! Maybe he had to brace himself climbing off his high horse? Oh wait something soiled his hands and he wiped them on the first thing available to avoid ultimate suffering? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John in Oly, WA Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Could be. Or perhaps he was just resting his hand on Domingo's anvil while he haggled over the price of the sword he'd had him make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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