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Nail facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Nails
Nails

A nail is a metal object with a flat head and a long, sharp tip. A hammer or nail gun is used to put it into another object. It is often used to join two objects together.

The history of the nail came in three periods:

  1. Hand-wrought (forged) nail (pre-history until 19th century)
  2. Cut nail (roughly 1800 to 1914)
  3. Wire nail (roughly 1860 to the present)

Nails date back at least to Ancient Egypt – bronze nails found in Egypt have been dated 3400 BC. The Bible has references to nails. King David gave iron to make nails for what would become Solomon's Temple.

The Romans made extensive use of nails. The Roman army left behind seven tons of nails when it evacuated the fortress of Inchtuthil in Perthshire, Scotland, in 86 or 87 AD.

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Nail Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.