Possible hoe

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This perforated cobble with a blade at one end and a rounded butt was found at Creed near Stornoway on Lewis in Outer Hebrides. It may well have been a hoe, for cultivating light sandy soils. Its date is unknown, but probably no earlier than around 3800 BC and probably no later than around 1000 AD.

This tool has been made by drilling a hole through a cobble, and forming a blade at one end. The tip of the blade has been broken off, and there is some polish on the blade, showing that it has been used.

Simple tools for tilling the soil, made from stone and bone (and probably wood) have been found in the Northern and Western Isles. They can be hard to date because of their simplicity of forms.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-774-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.AH 25
• Date: Possibly between 3800 BC and 1000 AD
  
• Material: Greenstone
  Pebble
  
• Dimensions: 10.00" x 4.00" x 1.50"
  
• What: Pebble
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Stornoway, Creed
  
• Event:
• Description: Pebble of greenstone from Creed, Lewis, Ross and Cromarty
  
• References:
• Translations:
• Related Records: