A tool called a 'punner' in English used to pound
down broken stones laid below the foundation of a building. It consists of a piece
of zelkova wood 300-400mm in diameter, and 350-450mm high. There is an iron ring
attached to the end and two or three rods about 80cm long which are fixed at even
distances around the circumference. These rods allow several people to lift a
tako and drop it to ram down broken stones. The tako weighs between
18 and 37kg. This work is now largely done by electrically powered machines. |