Knives

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These iron fragments are the remains of as many as five knives 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.

The knives are all fragmentary and very corroded. Traces of organic remains can be seen on some of the pieces, probably the remains of wooden handles and skin or leather sheaths.

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

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-692-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 51. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp 79-84.
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