From Vallay, North Uist, Outer Hebrides
Add to albumThis whalebone knife was found at Vallay on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It was possibly used as a skinning or dehairing knife, sometime between 200 BC and 800 AD.
The knife was carefully shaped from a piece of whalebone.
People collected bone from stranded carcasses of whales, porpoises and dolphins. In the largely treeless north and west, whalebone was used as a substitute for wood. It was strong, dense and resilient, and came in very large sizes.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-100-039-123-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.GT 151
- Date: Between 200 BC and 800 AD
- Material: Bone; curved back; straight edge
Implement / knife, skinning / knife, dehairing
- Dimensions: 7.38" L
- What: Implement / knife, skinning / knife, dehairing
- Subject:
- Who:
- Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, North Uist, Vallay
- Event:
- Description: Bone implement, possibly a skinning or dehairing knife, from Vallay, North Uist
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