Scabbard

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This bronze sword scabbard is from Mortonhall in the Pentlands in Midlothian. Judging by the material and decoration, the owner must have been of high status. The scabbard was used sometime in the first two centuries AD.

The scabbard was made of sheet bronze of two different alloys producing different colours. An upper bronze strip runs along its length, fixed with rivets, with late Celtic ornamentation at each end and a decorated raised loop in the middle.

Warfare, or the threat of it, offered ideal opportunity for showing off status, especially through weaponry.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-135-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FA 35
• Date: Between 0 and 200 AD
  
• Material: Bronze; raised loop in middle; late Celtic ornamentation
  Scabbard, sword
  
• Dimensions: 23.50" x 1.25"
  
• What: Scabbard, sword
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Pentland, Morton Hall
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze sword scabbard with late Celtic ornamentation, from Morton Hall, Pentland, Midlothian
  
• References:
  • MacGregor, Morna. Early Celtic art in North Britain. Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1976, vol. 1, pp. 81, 91, 184; vol. 2, no. 150. 
• Translations:
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