oldest shovel

The first known shovels, I found out in the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology, were discarded ox scapula (shoulder blades) that folks in Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain used to move soil and rocks.

When was the first shovel invented?

3,000 – 1,000 BC approx.) Recent discoveries of Bronze Age tools have provided further evidence of prehistoric mining practices and the extraction of metal from its ore. A wooden shovel – discovered at Alderley Edge copper mines in Cheshire – has been dated back to approximately 1750 BC.

What Is a Number 2 shovel?

Once, round point shovels came in many sizes: 0, 00, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. Today only the four smallest – 0 through 2 – are made, of which the No. 2 (with a head of about 9”x12”) is most common.

What is the difference between a shovel and a spade?

A spade is shorter and has a flat blade, while a shovel is longer, angled, and its blade is curved into more of a scoop. Shovels are better for digging up, breaking apart, and lifting soil as well as for scooping and moving loose materials.

Why do American shovels have no handles?

A shovel (US: “scoop”) has a wider blade and raised rim, to “shovel” (ie, lift and carry) more loose material - like a spoon. ... A straight handle without a crosspiece makes this harder to use, because of the weight of the material on the blade will cause a twisting moment about the handle, which needs to be controlled.

What is shovel?

A shovel is a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand, or ore. Most shovels are hand tools consisting of a broad blade fixed to a medium-length handle. Shovel blades are usually made of sheet steel or hard plastics and are very strong.

What is hand shovel?

1. hand shovel - a shovel that is operated by hand. coal shovel - a hand shovel for shoveling coal. entrenching tool, trenching spade - a hand shovel carried by infantrymen for digging trenches.

What is a pointed shovel called?

Trench shovels have a long and narrow blade with a pointed tip, and the blade is set at an angle.

What is a skinny shovel called?

Trench shovels are also often called post hole shovels due to their long, narrow blades that fit well into these types of holes to help clean them out.

What shovel to use for digging?

Best overall: Fiskars Long-Handle Round-Point Steel Digging Shovel. Best short garden shovel: Bond Mini D-Handle Shovel. Best garden spade: Fiskars D-Handle Garden Spade.

Should you sharpen a spade?

Digging with a sharp shovel and spade will make your gardening and landscaping days much easier! Most shovels come with a dull edge so it is best to sharpen them right away and touch-up the edge once in a while just as you do a kitchen knife to keep it sharp!

When should you use a shovel?

Shovel is a tool used to dig as well as to move loose, granular materials (like dirt, gravel, grain, or snow) from one spot to another.
Spade is a tool used for digging straight-edged holes or trenches, slicing and lifting sod, and edging flower beds or lawns.

What is a SharpShooter shovel?

What is a SharpShooter Spade used for? This style is also called a Tile Shovel, or a Transplanting Spade. It is only for digging, though you can lift a little soil up and out of holes or trenches with it. ... For digging really big holes, our round-point digging shovel is a better choice.

What is a hollow back shovel?

Hollow-back shovels are usually stamped from a metal sheet that's rolled over to create a depression called a frog. Some shovels have a plate welded over the frog to increase strength and keep the wooden handle drier and less prone to decay.

What is a rice shovel?

Description. The Razor-Back clipped point rice shovel is ideal for digging in waterlogged soil. It features a perforated blade for use in wet soils and a 48-inch hardwood handle for strength.

What is the difference between a spade and a trowel?

A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material. ... A spade is a tool primarily for digging, comprising a blade – typically narrower and less curved than that of a shovel – and a long handle.

What is another word for shovel?

Shovel Synonyms - WordHippo Thesaurus.
...
What is another word for shovel?

scoop	spade
garden spade	snow shovel
spud	digger

When can we say that a shovel is sharp?

When sharpened at a proper angle, about 1/8" of the blade will be visibly shiny from sharpening. 6) The dullness of your shovel will dictate how many strokes you need to take with the sharpener before you see a shiny beveled edge appear.

How do you maintain a shovel?

Maintaining a Shovel or Spade

Fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand.
Mix in 1 quart of motor oil. (Use the oil that you've drained after an oil change.)
After using your shovel or fork, stick the blade or tines into the sand a couple of times to remove dirt and oil the tool. Good to Know.

What is a draining shovel?

A drainage shovel is used for digging long, narrow channels for drainage pipes, irrigation work and for laying cables. ... Its slim shape means that less soil will be taken out, giving a neat finish to your trench digging.

How big is a shovel?

The standard length of a shovel is usually about 1.2m (48″) overall, although this will vary according to the size and shape of the blade and socket. Those taller than 1.8m (5 ft 10) may find a shovel of 1.4m (4 ft 6) plus in length more suitable…

What is a spade shovel used for?

Digging tool

In gardening, a spade is a hand tool used to dig or loosen ground, or to break up lumps in the soil. Together with the fork it forms one of the chief implements wielded by the hand in agriculture and horticulture. It is sometimes considered a type of shovel.