Forks

[Peroni]

The Len Morgan replica (apart from being in brass rather than silver) is pretty accurate- and I can personally vouch that it is 100% functional. It fascinated some other people in the pub that Jim and I were drinking in, and always has a big impact when I do school visits.

I hope you tell them it's second/third century Paul?! :wink:

I have seen the original at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Len's version was made in bronze as it was cheaper and easier to produce than in silver.

I have one too, and I have always made people aware that it was of a later period but it is a good way of showing advanced Roman technology to the public at displays.

Although a rarity I cannot believe that it was a one off or 'just appeared'. After all, the 5th Century B.C shows Poseidon with a trident and the same instrument was used by the Retiarius in the arena. Logical thinking people might decide a 3 pronged fork was good for picking up snails, meat and vegetables as well as spearing fish and men , after all they’re meat as well!

There is another multi-tool at Verulamium Museum (St Albans), but it is a combination knife and spoon.