Ploughshare

A large part of a wooden ploughshare. Found when sand around the pyramid of King Sensuret II at Lahun was cleared by the British School of Archaeology in Egypt in 1921. Guy Brunton describes a number of wooden tools that were either used in the construction or destruction of the pyramid when it and surroundig buildings were used as a quarry: "up on the east face a large and heavy wooden wedge, perhaps a plough share, used to lever up big blocks" (1923: 13). Petrie dated the object to the 18th Dynasty, suggesting the agricultural tool was repurposed during the destruction of the pyramid. It may well be earlier in date. Marked in pencil 479. CONDITION NOTE (1998): Holed, dry, splitting, surface dirt, discolouration. Wellcome Historical Medical Museum accession no. 58295 "PLOUGH SHEAR. Wood. 24 1/2 " x 6". Egyptian XVIII Dynasty. Presented Sept. 1927 by Prof. Flinders Petrie, University College."