from Kildonan, Eigg, Inner Hebrides

Sickle blade (piece)

This piece of an iron sickle blade was found in a Viking grave mound at Kildonan on Eigg in the Inner Hebrides. The man was buried between 900 and 950 with weapons, tools and ornaments from Scandinavia and the British Isles.

If complete, the object would have had a long slightly curving blade, with a tang bending back around 45 degrees for the handle. Here, only a piece near the end of the sickle survives, and the tip is missing.

Some objects in Viking burials are specific to men's or women's graves. Others, like sickles, are found in both. Sickles were used to harvest corn and plant fibres, but smaller examples are also known, perhaps for cutting plants for daily cooking.

Record details

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

Online ID:	000-000-099-722-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0036: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay) Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.IL 169
Date:	Between 900 and 950
Material:	Iron
Dimensions:
What:	Sickle / portion
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Inverness-shire, Eigg
Event:
Description:	Portion of an iron sickle, from Eigg
References:	Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 84. 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 68.
Translations:
Related Records: