from Tormore, Arran

Knives and blade

These two knives and blade of flint were found in a chambered cairn at Tormore on the island of Arran, together with a stone macehead, fragments of pottery vessels, flakes, blades and scrapers. The items had been deposited in the tomb as grave goods.

The knives and blade had been made from high quality flint, and either they or the parent flint nodes had almost certainly been imported from northeast Ireland. They had been made with great skill, and appear to have been unused when placed in the tomb.

Many of Scotland's early farming communities buried their dead in communal tombs. Various offerings for the afterlife were included, such as food, in pots or as joints of meat, and everyday possessions such as flint arrowheads and tools.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-190-004-057-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.EO 244
Date:	Between 3800 and 3000 BC
Material:	Flint Flint Flint
Dimensions:
What:	Knife Knife Knife
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Bute, Arran, Kilmory, Tormore Scotland, Bute, Arran, Kilmory, Tormore Scotland, Bute, Arran, Kilmory, Tormore
Event:
Description:	Edge-polished flint knife from Tormore, Arran Flint knife from Tormore, Arran Edge-polished flint knife from Tormore, Arran
References:	Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, pp 170, 174, 237. Henshall, A.S. 1972. The Chambered Tombs of Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1972, vol. 2, pp 305, 371-3.
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