Polished stone

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This polished stone was found at the native broch settlement site at Tappock in Stirlingshire. It may have been used as a burnisher, perhaps in the production of leather. The stone was used sometime between 100 BC and 400 AD.

Polished stone of flinty slate used as a burnisher, from Tappock, Stirlingshire

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: 000-100-038-501-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GM 10
• Date: Between 100 BC and 400 AD
  
• Material: Slate, flinty
  Stone / burnisher
  
• Dimensions: 2.75" x 2.25" x 1.00"
  
• What: Stone / burnisher
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Stirlingshire, Torwood, Tappock
  
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• Description:
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