Bundle of iron arrowheads

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These iron arrowheads were found in a man's grave at Westness on Rousay in Orkney. He was buried with a range of Scandinavian weapons and tools in a boat sometime between 850 and 950.

One of these arrowheads is forked, and the rest are leaf-shaped. The upper parts of the arrows' wooden shafts have been preserved. They corroded together inside a quiver which has rotted away.

Forked arrowheads were used in hunting to hamstring mammals and to damage birds' feathers. Bows and arrows were sometimes buried along with other possessions in Viking graves. No Viking bow has survived in Scotland.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-144-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.1997.122
• Date: 850 - 950 AD
  Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Iron
  Arrowhead
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Arrowhead
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness
  
• Event:
• Description: Iron arrowhead from Westness, Orkney, 850 - 950 AD
  
• References:
• Translations:
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