Sword (piece)

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This piece of a bronze sword was found at Beinn nan Gudairean on the island of Colonsay in Inner Hebrides. It is part of a prestigious possession, used sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The piece comprises the middle section of a leaf-shaped swords, missing now the point and hilt. The edges are badly corroded, but traces of an edge bevel are just visible. It has a smooth rounded cross section.

Technological advances in bronze casting in the late Bronze Age resulted in new and better weapons. Long slashing swords became popular in the early 1st millennium BC. They could be used on foot or from horseback, and were prestigious weapons.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-172-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DL 63
• Date: 950 - 750 BC
  Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Copper alloy, bronze, dark green, dull or only slightly glossy; leaf shaped sword, smooth lenticular cross section, slightly curved longitudinally; surfaces in reasonable condition, edges badly corroded, edge bevel just visible
  Sword / blade / section, middle
  
• Dimensions: 272 mm L, 40 mm max broad, 7.50 mm max thick
  
• What: Sword / blade / section, middle
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Beinn nan Gudairean
  
• Event:
• Description: Middle section of the blade of a bronze sword, from Beinn nan Gudairean, Colonsay, 950 - 750 BC
  
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