Sword

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This bronze sword is one of two found while digging a drain at Jacksbank Farm near Glenberbie in Kincardineshire. The hoard was buried sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The leaf-shaped blade has two rivet holes in each wing and two on the hilt plate to secure a handle. The six rivets survived, but were lost after discovery. The flat, thin hilt plate has slight ribbings.

The north-east of Scotland may have been a centre of production for swords in the late Bronze Age. 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

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-397-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DL 18
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  Late Bronze Age
  
• Material: Bronze; leaf-shaped; two rivet holes in each wing and two in hilt plate
  
• Dimensions: 25.88" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Kincardineshire, Glenbervie, Jacksbank
  
• Event:
• Description: Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped sword, from Jacksbank Farm, Kincardineshire
  
• 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, 113. 
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