Sword (Piece)

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This upper half of a bronze sword was found at Carn Dearg on Muck in the Inner Hebrides. It has evidence of ancient repairs. The sword was used sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The sword has six rivet holes, with one rivet still surviving. The hilt end of the sword was cast on later as a repair.

Bronze swords were made by melting the metal in a crucible, and then casting it into shape using moulds of clay and stone. Techniques for making additions to objects, such as handles on a vessel, or new parts as in this example, were also known.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-420-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DL 61
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Upper part of sword; six rivet holes, one rivet in situ; hilt end cast on later as a repair
  Sword / portion
  
• Dimensions: 8.50" existing L; blade 1.15" W
  
• What: Sword / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, Muck, Carn Dearg
  
• Event:
• Description: Upper half of a sword with six rivet holes, the hilt end cast on later as a repair, from Carn Dearg, Muck
  
• 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. p 29-30, 83. 
• Translations:
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