Sword (pieces)

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These pieces of an iron sword were found in a man's grave at Kildonan on Eigg in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried between 875 and 925 with a sword, a plain penannular brooch, a belt, a whetstone, valuable beads and some small pieces of flint.

The poorly preserved double-edged sword is in many pieces, and lacks its guard. The pommel is also damaged, so that its exact form is unclear.

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.

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-724-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 174
• Date: Between 875 and 925
  
• Material: Iron
  Sword / portion
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Sword / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, Eigg, Kildonan
  
• Event:
• Description: Portions of iron sword from Kildonan, 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 70. 
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