Figured out why my shovel kept breaking at a dig site

I volunteer on a dig in New Mexico and kept snapping fiberglass shovel handles. Tried 3 different brands over 2 months and they all cracked. An older archaeologist there told me to stop prying rocks with the blade sideways. He showed me to use a tile spade for digging and keep a separate pry bar for rocks. Has anyone else dealt with broken tools on field work?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jennifer10d ago

Broke three shovels myself before getting the hint.

wesley8019d ago

Three shovels sounds a bit like user error more than anything else. Was this all in one spot or different kinds of dirt? At some point you gotta wonder if it's the ground or the way you're swinging it.