Tweezers

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This pair of iron tweezers was found with some human bones and other objects eroding from the sand dunes at Reay in Caithness in 1912. The objects are characteristic Scandinavian grave goods, indicating a woman's burial dating between 900 and 1000.

The small pair of tweezers is extremely corroded, and missing the lower portion. At the top is a ring, now broken, used to suspend the tweezers from a cord or chain.

Viking women were sometimes buried with toilet implements, such as tweezers and ear spoons. The implements had rings, and were designed to be hung from a belt. Wealthy women had silver items, while others made do with bronze or iron.

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-740-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between 900 and 1000
  
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• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 125-6. 
  • 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. 22-4. 
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