Plough Coulters from Silchester

Extract

Among various tools and other objects of iron included in two hoards of blacksmith's scrap recovered from the bottom of a pit and a well during the excavations at Silchester in 1894 and 1900 were some plough coulters (pl. LXXVIII, I ), the importance of which in connexion with agriculture in Britain during the Roman period has hitherto passed unnoticed. Six examples altogether were found, and although each varies somewhat in size they are generally of the same form and character. They may be described as heavy iron bars, roughly octagonal in shape and from 1 to 1Image-1 in. in section, with one end forged into a knife-like form resembling the blade of the ordinary Roman butcher's-knife or ‘culter’. The blades are from 7Image-2 to 9 in. long and 3 to 3Image-3 in. in breadth at their upper end, tapering to a point at the lower end. In length overall they vary from 26Image-4 to 28 in., with one exception, which has obviously been broken off short in use. They are all much worn, which no doubt accounts for their having been consigned to the scrap-heap. The circumstances of their finding leave no possible doubt that they belong to the Roman period, but no coins or other associated objects allow of any precise date being fixed.