Sword

Add to album

This bronze sword was found on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides in a hoard containing two swords. It was a prestigious possession, used sometime between 950 and 750 BC. Unusually, these swords were found with wooden handles and a leather sheath, but these were destroyed after their discovery.

The leaf-shaped blade has a rivet hole in each wing and two in the hilt plate to secure the handle which has not survived. The grip was repaired in antiquity with a cast on piece of metal.

Technological advances in bronze casting in the late Bronze Age resulted in new and better weapons. Long slashing swords became popular in the early 1st millennium BC. They could be used on foot or from horseback, and were prestigious weapons.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-034-388-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DL 3
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  Late Bronze Age
  
• Material: Bronze; leaf-shaped; rivet hole in each wing and two in hilt plate
  
• Dimensions: 27.00" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, South Uist
  
• Event:
• Description: Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped sword, from South Uist
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. 84, 111. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: