Needles

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This antler needle from a broch at Sty Wick Bay on Sanday in Orkney, and a similar one of bone or horn from a broch at Cinn Trolla at Kintradwell in Sutherland, were used in to make baskets sometime between 200 BC and 400 AD.

The needles are sometimes termed 'straw needles'.

Plant and animal fibres were used to produce a wide range of common products in addition to cloth, including nets, basketry, string and rope. Few examples survive, and of those which do, there is rarely enough to determine the size, shape or function.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-038-004-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GL 24
• Date: 200 BC - 400 AD
  Between 200 BC and 400 AD
  
• Material: Bone or horn
  Horn, deer; thick end partially flattened on one side and pierced by circular hole
  Needle, straw
  Tool / needle, straw
  
• Dimensions: 5.25" L; hole 0.38" D
  
• What: Needle, straw
  Tool / needle, straw
  
• Subject:
• Who: Reverend Dr J.M. Joass
  
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sanday, Stacwick Bay
  Scotland, Sutherland, Brora, Kintradwell, Cinn Trolla
  
• Event:
• Description: Antler tool, possibly a straw needle, from Stacwick Bay, Sanday
  Straw needle of bone or horn, from Cinn Trolla, Kintradwell, Sutherland, 200 BC - 400 AD
  
• References:
• Translations:
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