Knife

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This iron knife is one of the grave goods placed in a Scandinavian grave at a cemetery at Pierowall on Westray in Orkney. The burials date from between 850 and 950.

The knife consists of a tang and a very corroded blade. The cutting edge appears to have been straight and the back curved.

Both men and women were buried with knives in the Viking Age, sometimes with whetstones as well. Most knives are plain and everyday, although some ornamented examples are known. Handles were often of wood or bone.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-733-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 187
• Date: Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Iron
  
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• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Links of Pierowall
  
• Event:
• Description: Knife
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 132-134. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, p 96. 
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