Knife, sheath, whetstone and spearhead (reconstruction)

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This picture shows reconstructions of an iron knife, leather sheath, whetstone with bronze cap and an iron spearhead found in a Viking boy's grave at Balnakeil near Durness in Sutherland in 1991. He was buried with adult weapons and various objects, sometime between 850 and 900.

The actual objects were very corroded and fragmentary, but x-rays and other scientific analysis, together with comparisons to other better preserved examples, have been used for these reconstructions.

Only traces of the leather sheath survived, and the pattern is based on other finds. Only the cap of the whetstone survived. The exact shape of the knife was also difficult to determine, even with x-rays, and only traces of the handle remained.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-771-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  TMT: DC03
• Date: Reconstruction: 1998; Original objects: between 850 and 900
  
• Material: Iron; Leather; Bronze
  
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject: Archaeology / Death and Burial / Vikings
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Sutherland, Durness, Balnakeil (original found here)
  
• Event:
• Description: These are reconstructions of an iron knife, leather sheath, whetstone with bronze cap and an iron spearhead found in a Viking boy's grave at Balnakeil near Durness in Sutherland in 1991.
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 140-2. 
• Translations:
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