X-ray, of sword

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This is an x-ray of the iron sword found at Torbeckhill at Ecclefechan in Dumfriesshire. The sword was made in Anglo-Saxon England in the 9th century, and could have made its way to Scotland via a number of means.

The x-ray shows the detail of the pattern welding on the blade. Strips of iron and steel were intertwined like strands in a cable, then hammered flat and drawn to an edge.

Steel is a harder form of iron but it is difficult to work, and was not made in large quantities before 1100. The pattern welding technique was the pinnacle of the blacksmith's art, producing objects with the resilience of iron and the strength of steel.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-218-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 340
• Date: Original: Between 800 and 900
  
• Material: Double edged; trilobed pommel; recurved guards; imperfect at point
  Sword
  
• Dimensions: 24.50" L
  
• What: Sword
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Dumfriesshire, Annan District Waterworks, Mein River
  
• Event:
• Description: Double-edged Viking sword with trilobed pommel and recurved guards, found on the left bank of the Mein River, Dumfriesshire
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 109. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, pp 13-4. 
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