Sickle blade

This iron sickle blade was found in a Norse grave at Pierowall on Westray in Orkney. No details were recorded about the burial, but other grave goods included two knives, a bead, a key, a bronze drinking horn mount and a number of rivets.

The sickle blade is very corroded, but its general shape can be determined.

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

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