Knife

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This bronze knife was found with a razor in Quoykea Moss in St. Andrew's parish on Orkney. It could have been used as a specialist woodworking tool, used sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The knife has a socket which fastened to the handle with a rivet.

Socketed knives were one part of the Late Bronze Age bronzesmith's repertoire. The findspot of this knife and its associated razor (for shaving), in Quoykea Moss, suggests that this had probably been a votive deposit in a watery area.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-666-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DQ 262
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; socketed; with broad rounded midrib
  
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• Where: Scotland, Orkney, St Andrews and Deerness, Moss of Quoykea
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze socketed knife from Moss of Quoykea, St Andrews, Orkney
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. pp 46, 87, 123. 
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