From Traprain Law, East Lothian
This piece of an iron knife was found at the native hillfort settlement at Traprain Law in East Lothian. It was used sometime between 0 and 400 AD.
If complete, the knife would have had a backward curving blade. The square-section tang and part of the thin blade survive.
Iron was a scarce and prized resource in the late centuries BC and early centuries AD. At first it was worked by heating it and hammering it into shape using a range of hammers. With skilful working, a range of functional objects were produced.
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