DOI Artikel:
Steensberg, Axel: A 6000 year old ploughing implement from Satrup Moor
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48999#0115
A 6000 YEAR OLD IMPLEMENT
109
Die Vorder- und Riickseite des Blattes des langen
Gerats aus dem Moor von Satrup.
The shaft of this implement has been shaped
by burning in order to produce a convenient
hand grasp as on the shorthandled specimen
mentioned above. However, the marks are pla-
ced at different distances from the blade. As
shown on the drawing fig. 3 the hollowing for
the left (i. e. forward) hand is between 65 and
75 cm above the blade, which is 15-20 cm
higher than on the shorthandled specimen. The
hollowings for the left hand are visible on the
rear of the shaft (fig. 4). The incurvature in
the original surface is not so deep as on the
shorthandled implement. But it is somewhat
broader so that all four fingers will have more
than sufficient space to be placed together. The
burned continuation of the upper end of the
mark may be accidental because the thumb
would be below, not above the palm of the hand.
In contradistinction to the marks on the
shorthandled specimen the hollowed mark for
the operator’s right (i. e. rear) hand on this
piece is to be seen faintly quite close above the
mark for his left hand, i. e. 85-90 cm above the
blade. This mark is only clearly made for the
thumb, as can be observed on the drawing fig.
3. The fact that the operator of the tool had
both hands placed close to each other - rather
high on the shaft - proves that he intended to
“steer” the tool, rather than to shovel or to dig
with it. Moreover, for a digging operation the
two holes would have no meaning, and the shaft
would easily be broken because of the long
distance between the blade and the grasp of the
forward hand, and for digging the rear hand
should have been placed farther up so that the
operator could obtain a convenient counter
weight against the long part below the lower
hand. The same would be the case if he used
the implement for shovelling purposes. If the
tool had been intended for such work, it would
not need such a long shaft either. But when it
was used in the same way as an ard, being con-
tinuously pulled through the soil by the aid of
two ropes, the operator would have a firm
grasp on it because the shaft was placed be-
tween his upper-arm and his body. And if the
109
Die Vorder- und Riickseite des Blattes des langen
Gerats aus dem Moor von Satrup.
The shaft of this implement has been shaped
by burning in order to produce a convenient
hand grasp as on the shorthandled specimen
mentioned above. However, the marks are pla-
ced at different distances from the blade. As
shown on the drawing fig. 3 the hollowing for
the left (i. e. forward) hand is between 65 and
75 cm above the blade, which is 15-20 cm
higher than on the shorthandled specimen. The
hollowings for the left hand are visible on the
rear of the shaft (fig. 4). The incurvature in
the original surface is not so deep as on the
shorthandled implement. But it is somewhat
broader so that all four fingers will have more
than sufficient space to be placed together. The
burned continuation of the upper end of the
mark may be accidental because the thumb
would be below, not above the palm of the hand.
In contradistinction to the marks on the
shorthandled specimen the hollowed mark for
the operator’s right (i. e. rear) hand on this
piece is to be seen faintly quite close above the
mark for his left hand, i. e. 85-90 cm above the
blade. This mark is only clearly made for the
thumb, as can be observed on the drawing fig.
3. The fact that the operator of the tool had
both hands placed close to each other - rather
high on the shaft - proves that he intended to
“steer” the tool, rather than to shovel or to dig
with it. Moreover, for a digging operation the
two holes would have no meaning, and the shaft
would easily be broken because of the long
distance between the blade and the grasp of the
forward hand, and for digging the rear hand
should have been placed farther up so that the
operator could obtain a convenient counter
weight against the long part below the lower
hand. The same would be the case if he used
the implement for shovelling purposes. If the
tool had been intended for such work, it would
not need such a long shaft either. But when it
was used in the same way as an ard, being con-
tinuously pulled through the soil by the aid of
two ropes, the operator would have a firm
grasp on it because the shaft was placed be-
tween his upper-arm and his body. And if the