Sickle

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This iron sickle with a fragment of a wooden handle was found in a large hoard of Roman and native metalwork buried at Blackburn Mill near Cockburnspath in Berwickshire. It dates between 80 and 200 AD.

The blade is corroded and broken, but enough survives to show the shape of the object. The handle is in the shape of a phallus, presumably linking the sickle to symbolism of the fertility of the earth.

The Blackburn Mill hoard contained over 65 objects, mainly agricultural tools, deposited in two bronze cauldrons in an area which probably was an ancient lake. The objects are of both Roman and native origin, probably buried as a gift to the gods.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-901-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DW 107
• Date: Between 80 and 200 AD
  
• Material: Iron; fragment of wooden handle
  
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• Where: Scotland, Berwickshire, Cockburnspath, Blackburn Mill
  
• Event:
• Description: Iron sickle with fragment of wooden handle, from Blackburn Mill
  
• References:
  • Piggott, S. Three metalwork hoards of the Roman period. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 87 (1952-3), 1-50.
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