Enchanted tools have been with humanity for as long as civilization itself. Arguably, they were a prerequisite for civilization and absolutely essential to the development of agriculture. Evidence of their use goes hand-in-hand with the Neolithic Revolution, with the earliest example being the famous Elif Shovel discovered at the Göbekli Tepe excavation site in 1965.

The Elif Shovel was carved from the rib of a whale. Not an ideal material, providing very little spade to work with, but the earth-penetrating power added by the short line of runes carved into the handle more than made up for those shortcomings.

It is theorized that this shovel was designed for digging through clay. Unfortunately, we'll never know for sure, because the enchantment has long since drained away, and knowledge of these particular runes has not survived the years.

Over the millennia, we've come a long way from whale bone and clay-dested shovels. With the invention of steel and the continued refinement and advancement of magic, constructing advanced irrigation systems and tunneling through granite mountains became feats that even the remotest communities could achieve. Early shovels, when they were still quite rare, were passed down in families for generations and were as carefully maintained as any sword or crown. The crafting of shovels, many for highly specialized uses, is a thriving industry in nations around the world even today.