page_title: Pile driver
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Pile driver / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Originalgetreuer Nachbau einer römischen Pfahlramme, wie sie beim Bau von Caesars Rheinbrücke im Jahr 55 v. Chr. verwendet wurde. Ausgestellt auf der Festung Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz. English: Faithful reconstruction of a Roman pile driver used during the construction of Caesar's Rhine bridges in 55 BC. Displayed at the Festung Ehrenbreitstein at Koblenz, Germany.
context_page_description: A pile driver is a device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. The term is also used in reference to members of the construction crew that work with pile-driving rigs.
  One type of pile driver uses a weight placed between guides so that it can slide vertically. It is placed above a pile. The weight is raised, which may involve the use of hydraulics, steam, diesel, or manual labour. When the weight reaches its highest point it is released, and hits the pile, driving it into the ground.
context_section_description: There are a number of claims to the invention of the pile driver. A mechanically sound drawing of a pile driver appeared as early as 1475 in Francesco di Giorgio Martini's treatise Trattato di Architectura. Also, several other prominent inventors — James Nasmyth (son of Alexander Nasmyth), who invented a steam-powered pile driver in 1845, watchmaker James Valoué, Count Giovan Battista Gazzola, and Leonardo da Vinci — have all been credited with inventing the device. However, there is evidence that a comparable device was used in the construction of Crannogs at Oakbank and Loch Tay in Scotland as early as 5000 years ago. In 1801 John Rennie came up with a steam piledriver in Britain. Otis Tufts is credited with inventing the steam pile driver in the United States.
caption: Roman pile driver (replica) used at the construction of Caesar's Rhine bridges (55 BC)
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