Iron Age Ferrous Hammerheads from Britain

There are more than thirty iron hammerheads known from the pre-Roman Iron Age in Britain, the majority of which are assigned to the first centuries BC and AD. They include specialised tools, such as set hammers and a swage sledge-hammer which are blacksmiths' tools. The hand-hammers are more numerous and many of these are probably also metalworkers' tools. Fourteen have been examined by metallography showing that at least ten are quench hardened at one or both faces and some may have been tempered.