Hide working tool

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This bone tool, perhaps for working hides, was found at Broch of Burrian on North Ronaldsay in Orkney. It was used sometime between 200 BC and 1000 AD.

One face of the bone is flattened and smooth.

There were three stages to prepare a skin to make leather. First the hide was removed from a dead animal using knives. Next, it was cleaned. Then it was preserved by rubbing salt, a mineral like alum or oils into it, using tools such as this one.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-038-367-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GB 272
• Date: Between 200 BC and 1000 AD
  
• Material: Bone, cetacean; dense; smoothed flat on one face
  
• Dimensions: 12.50" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian
  
• Event:
• Description: Hide-working tool of cetacean bone, from Burrian
  
• References:
  • MacGregor, Arthur. The Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 105 (1972-4), pp 63-118, esp. pp 86, 111. 
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