Weapons (pieces)

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These pieces of an iron sword, spearhead, axe and shield boss were found in a man's grave at Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried in a boat with his horse, weapons and other objects of daily life between 875 and 925.

Although in poor condition now, the range of weapons buried with the Viking man indicates that he was wealthy. The sword was inlaid with silver wire, and the spearhead had bronze pegs and simple engraved decoration.

Viking men were often buried with their weapons, together with a range of objects to accompany them after death. This man appears to have a full weapon 'kit' of sword, spear, axe, shield and arrows, lacking only the helmet of the most wealthy.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-792-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 762
• Date: 9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  Between 875 and 925
  
• Material: Iron
  Iron
  Iron; in three pieces
  Axe head / fragment
  Shield boss / fragment
  Spearhead
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Axe head / fragment
  Shield boss / fragment
  Spearhead
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  
• Event:
• Description: Iron socketed spearhead in 11 main pieces, from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Two pieces of iron axe head from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Iron shield boss, of conical form, in three pieces from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 118-22. 
  • 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 48-61. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp 79-84.
• Translations:
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