Trench-digging machine

The folio shows the drawing of a digger for excavating trenches or channels. It possibly refers to a project for the channel which was to connect the river Arno to the sea, near Piombino. The hoe lifts when the heavy rocker falls. The connected container acts as a counterweight and causes the hoe to drop with great force, thus digging the trench.
Manuscript L, sheet 76 v.
1497-1502