Sword

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This iron sword with a bone hilt was found during excavations at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It was probably deliberately bent and sacrificed to the gods between 80 and 100 AD.

The blade of the sword has been doubled back, and the point is missing. The hilt is damaged and incomplete. The grip has ridges and flutings which prevented it from slipping in the hand.

Offerings to the gods were often special material, treated in special ways or put in special places, such as water. Prestigious weapons such as swords are sometimes found broken, probably sacrificed as part of a ceremony we can only guess about.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-832-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 139
• Date: Between 80 and 100 AD
  
• Material: Iron; bone hilt, doubled up
  
• Dimensions: Blade 16.50" L; hilt 4.25" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Iron sword with bone hilt, from Newstead
  
• References:
  • Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, p 184, Pl. XXXIV, 13. 
• Translations:
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