NZD1.00602MTL001: an earth auger made of iron. The bent section is sharpened on one side; on the other side a woven bag, attached by leather belts, was used to lift the soil to the surface. An auger like this was first employed in Amsterdam in 1602 to bore for clean drinking water. Wooden extensions were fixed to the upper part, allowing the tool to drill down tens of metres into the ground. Dated: 1600 – 1700. Dimensions: 1450 x 230 mm. Location: Nieuwebrug, Damrak. © Department of Monuments and Archaeology, municipality of Amsterdam, Harold Strak & Willem van Zoetendaal