Tips of iron swords

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These tips of iron swords are part of a hoard of native and Roman objects deposited in Carlingwark Loch in Kirkcudbrightshire sometime between 80 and 200 AD. Along with fragments of chain mail, they are the only warrior equipment in the hoard.

The tips of the swords were all deliberately cut off.

Offerings to the gods were often special material, treated in special ways or put in special places, such as water. Prestigious weapons such as swords are sometimes found broken, probably sacrificed as part of a ceremony we can only guess about.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-815-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DW 25
• Date: Between 80 and 200 AD
  
• Material: Iron; double-edged
  Iron; double-edged
  Iron; double-edged
  Iron; double-edged
  Iron; double-edged
  Blade, sword / portion
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Blade, sword / portion
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  Sword tip
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Carlingwark Loch
  Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Carlingwark Loch
  Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Carlingwark Loch
  Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Carlingwark Loch
  Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Carlingwark Loch
  
• Event:
• Description: Portion of iron sword-blade from Carlingwark Loch
  Iron sword tip from Carlingwark Loch
  Iron sword tip from Carlingwark Loch
  Iron sword tip from Carlingwark Loch
  Iron sword tip from Carlingwark Loch
  
• References:
  • Piggott, S. Three metalwork hoards of the Roman period. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 87 (1952-3), 1-50.
• Translations:
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