Tribulum Or Picking Board

Tribulum of large size composed of more than 4000 flint points. The tribulum is an agricultural tool used since the third millennium BC. It is one of the oldest agricultural tools and it was well known during the Roman era. Particularly characteristic of the Mediterranean basin, this machine tool is used to prick cereals, that is to say to separate the grains from the stalks. The underside of our tribulum is encrusted with approximately 4000 flint flakes, the rarest being those of more than 3000 stones as indicated on the website of the Museums of Occitania. This side was in contact with the cereals. The tribulum was pulled by donkeys, horses or oxen by means of the ring that we see on the back side. The peasant remains standing on this "sled" during the operation in order to add weight. Period early 19th century.