27th November 2011, 03:50 PM
Wax Wrote:I have often wondered how to tell what kind of implement made the marks and what plough marks on stones look like
A lot of the plough marks that I've been happy are plough marks have had a deep 'v'-shaped impact end then shallow towards the other, presumably because the plough is either pushing the stone down or riding up over it. Others run from end to end and are deeper in the middle cos the stone's held firm and the plough's just gone level where the rock sticks up more in the middle. Depends on the geology too, not simple. Helps if the orientation of the rock was recorded 'in situ'. If you want to see good examples of 'sharpening' wear (although this has been disputed) go see the Roman troughs/cisterns at Corbridge - have had almost identical on a cistern panel from Catterick. Hardly any individual cuts, more broad grooves and general wearing down of the stone into a deep 'u'-shape