Sword

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This bronze sword was found at the Moss of Cowie near Stonehaven in Kincardineshire. It was a prestigious possession, used sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The leaf-shaped blade has a rivet hole in each wing and one in the hilt plate for securing a handle.

The north-east of Scotland may have been a centre of production for swords in the late Bronze Age. Long slashing swords became popular in the early 1st millennium BC. They could be used on foot or from horseback, and were prestigious weapons.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-083-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DL 27
• Date: 950 - 750 BC
  Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; leaf shaped; rivet hole in each wing and one in hilt plate
  
• Dimensions: 23" L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Kincardineshire, Stonehaven, Moss of Cowie
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze sword from Moss of Cowie, near Stonehaven, 950 - 750 BC
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. 84. 
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