Sword

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This iron sword was found in a man's grave at Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried in a boat between 875 and 925 with a range of Scandinavian weapons, tools and a pin. He was probably a trader as well as a warrior.

The sword is fragmentary and in very poor condition. Analysis has shown, however, that originally it had a fancy hilt, intricately decorated with twisted silver wires and a chequer-pattern of silver.

Viking men were often buried with their weapons, together with a range of objects to accompany them after death. Swords were highly valued items, even plain ones. Some were elaborately decorated. They were used as slashing weapons.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-678-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between 875 and 925
  
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• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 118-22. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, pp 48-61, esp. p 48. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp 79-84.
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