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Archaeology Trowels

Archaeologists are funny about trowels. They actually spend only a small part of their time actually using the things, so why do trowels hold a special place in their hearts?

"Its all about connection" says amateur archaeologist Mark Wells. "The tip of the trowel is the point where you, the digger, comes into contact with your quarry."

The tool has to be used with subtlety if it is not to damage finds, yet must be robust enough to shift a large ammount of earth as quickly as is possible. Wood and steel, a sharp edge and a good grip.

Beyond the practicalities, Mark believes that over time a trowel becomes more than just a tool. "Once a trowel has been used to dig something of significance, it becomes embued with a little of the magic of discovery itself. I have three trowels, but my oldest is my favourite because it has explored the world of the Saxons with me. The other two I lend to whoever forgot to bring one along". So perhaps a trowel is also a talisman? Wizards have their wands, and Archaeologists have their trowels. I guess that depends on wether you have a processual or post-processual slant.

Whichever; there are few of us who could actually make an Archaeology Trowel, so we resort to the age old practice of shopping. Rick from Canada tells me he and many of his contemporaries use a Marshalltown trowel, a 16x4. According to Rick, "Once you break them in, they work like a charm."

In the UK we have the 4inch WHS Masonary Trowel from Spear and Jackson. With its high lift handle,square forged tang and notched ferule, laquered blade availiable in both right and left handed versions, this is the daddy of all digging implements. With a 20 year digging life I would like to recommend that the WHS is granted a knighthood in the new year's honours list.

Richard Atkinson's Field Archaeology of 1946 suggests that the best small tool for an excavator is a trowel with a 5inch blade.

My first WHS trowel cost seven pounds fifty back in 1992. Nowadays the humble trowel can set you back around...eight pounds fifty, which leads me to believe they saw me coming. Archaeology Trowels; Can you dig it!