Roman Metalwork: Bronze ship tack

Inv. No.: 82.054
Provenance: Roman
Date: c. 1st century BC-3rd century AD
Length: 12mm
Width: 19mm
 
Gift of David H. Swingler (Holland Coins and Antiquities).

A small bronze tack with a short, faceted and tapering shank and a round, flat head with an irregular outline. Four small raised dots can be seen on the lower surface of the head, spaced fairly evenly around the commencement of the shank forming a square pattern. The tip of the shank is twisted to one side and the surface is covered with a he

Function:
Used to attach lead sheathing to the hull to protect a ship timbers from attack by marine borers.

Manufacture:
Forged by hand.

Bibliography:
Casson, L., "Sailing", in C. Roebuck, ed., The Muses at Work: Arts, Crafts, and Professions in Ancient Greece and Rome, Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England, 1969, 190-195 (ship construction).

Frost, H. et al., Lilybaeum, Roma, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 1981 [supplement to Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, XXX (1976)], 119-123, 127-129.

Manning, W. H., "Blacksmithing", in D. Strong and D. Brown (eds.), Roman Crafts, New York, New York University Press, 1976, 151-152 (nail-heading tool). Ucelli, G., Le Navi di Nemi, Roma, La Libreria dello Stato, 1950, 158-159.

White, K. D., Greek and Roman Technology, London, Thames and Hudson, 1984, 145-148, 210-211 (ship construction).

Comparanda:
Frost, H. et al., Lilybaeum, Roma, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 1981 [supplement to Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, XXX (1976)], Fig. 58.4 and 5 (similar shape).

Ucelli, G., Le Navi di Nemi, Roma, La Libreria dello Stato, 1950, Figs. 160 and 162 (similar shapes from wrecks found in Lake Nemi; 1st century AD).