The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
548.2008.1
Wooden Wedges
27/11/2008
Hermione Cooper
27/11/2008
Two wooden wedges on blue nylon rope.
wood, nylon
One is 22(l) x 5(w) x 4.5(d) cms. The other is 22(l) x 4(w) x 3.5(d)
2
brown
Wooden wedges were a form of large piton and were used in the often larger cracks on sandstone cliffs, a prime example being The Old Man of Hoy. There was an added advantage on sea cliffs/ stacks since steel pitons rotted very quickly in salt laden, sea air, whereas wooden wedges didn't. You'll find a wooden wedge elsewhere in the collection which was removed from The Old Man of Hoy almost 50 years after it was first placed.
Wooden wedges were not common and were only around for a brief period in the 1960/70's which is when the two we have here in the collection were hewn from a tree - ash or oak.
They came from the store of the Joint Services Mountain Training Centre in Fort George and having never been used, they were destined for a skip - Mick Tighe salvaged them.
Donated by Mick Tighe
27/11/2008
28/04/2009
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009