11-17-2010, 07:52 PM
The anvil depicted is used in the field to knock the nicks out of a scythe falx foenaria (used to cut grass and grain) The shape of this type of field anvil has been used untill last century. The cross is used to prevent the anvil from sinking into the soil when used. A special hammer, with a sloped top surface and very narrow edge on both sides, was used. It would not have been used by a blacksmith, the scythe was hammered cold. A anvil for similar use was discovered in the Woerden 7, a Roman barge discovered in the Netherlands. I have a picture of it somewhere, as I may do a reproduction of it one of these days. I can explain it better in Dutch, but am afraid you will have to make do with this post :-) )
