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1962.5.3.5

Iron nail, square in section with a large flat head. [SM 20/12/2007]

1962.5.3.5

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Collection type
Object
Description
Iron nail, square in section with a large flat head. [SM 20/12/2007]
Person
Field collector Ian Archibald Richmond
PRM source Ian Archibald Richmond
PRM source Henry Cleeve
PRM source Iron & Steel Institute
Date / Period
Date made: 83-87 Archaeological period: Romano-British, uncertain
Date collected
By 1962
Acquisition information
Donated: 1962
Materials and processes
Material Iron Metal, Process Forged (Metal)
Dimensions
Length: max 52 mm, Width: max 11 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1962.5.3.5 Other PRM accession number: 1962.5.3e
Research and responses

The Roman legionary fortress at Inchtuthil [NO 1251 3971] is recorded on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland [RCAHMS] Canmore database of archaeological monuments under site no. NO13NW 5.0 and Canmore ID no. 28592. The fort is described as being founded by Agricola soon after AD 83 and systematically demolished soon after AD 86. First excavated in 1901 by Ross Abercromby, the next excavation occurred from 1952 and 1965 directed by Sir I. A. Richmond [the donator of this object] and Professor J. K. St Joseph. During their excavations they discovered that close to a million iron nails had been buried shortly before the fortress was abandoned, presumably to prevent them from being utilised by the enemy. [MN 09/07/2009]

A photo of a large quantity of iron nails recovered during the Richardson and St Joseph excavations can be viewed on SCRAN [Scran ID: 000-299-998-257-C], see http://www.scran.ac.uk. [MN 09/07/2009]

The final excavation report was published in 1985 as part of the Britannia monograph series; see Inchtuthil: The Roman Legionary Fortress Excavations, 1952-65 (Britannia Monograph series, no. 6), by Lynn F. Pitts and J. K. S. St. Joseph (London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1985). [MN 11/09/2009; JC 12 9 2012]

Search terms: Tool, Nail

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