Heckle (detail)

Add to album

A heckle was used in the preparation of flax fibres. The long spikes were designed to strip flax fibres and make them ready for spinning. This is a detail of an iron example found in a wealthy Scandinavian woman's grave at Westness on Rousay in Orkney.

The corrosion on the heckle preserved textile fragments which can be seen in this picture.

Flax was probably introduced to Scotland by the Scandinavian settlers. Flax seeds were found during excavations at Westness, as well as other Norse sites in Scotland. It was probably grown for its fibres, for making into linen, and for oil.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-000-099-713-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 735
• Date: Between 850 and 900
  
• Material: Iron; rusted together
  Heckle
  
• Dimensions: 5.00" W / 6.30" W; teeth 5.00" L
  
• What: Heckle
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness
  
• Event:
• Description: Two iron heckles rusted together, with corroded textile remains, from Westness, Orkney
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 136, 213. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: