from Westness, Rousay, Orkney

Grave goods

This picture shows some of the grave goods buried with a wealthy Scandinavian woman at Westness on Rousay in Orkney. Along with valuable jewellery, she was also buried with a range of tools, including those illustrated here.

The iron tools pictured here were used for making textiles. They include a long weaving sword used to push the weft together when weaving, remains of two heckles for combing plant fibres, a set of shears and a small sickle or reaping hook.

Objects associated with the production of textiles are often found in Viking women's graves. Some are specific to linen, such as heckles (large iron 'combs'). This woman was buried many items associated with textiles.

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.

Online ID:	000-000-099-671-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0036: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay) Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.IL 736
Date:	Between 850 and 900
Material:	Iron Iron; retains part of wooden handle Iron; rusted together Iron; slightly expanded end to handle; incomplete Iron; tip missing Probably broken from X.IL 732 A; remains of wood in the socket
Dimensions:	24.30" L x 1.35" W 3.00" L x 0.70" W 5.00" W / 6.30" W; teeth 5.00" L 6.30" L x 1.40" across open end 7.65" across; blade 0.80" W 8.20" L; blades 0.55" W
What:	Heckle Knife / portion Shears Sickle Sword socket Sword, weaving / portion
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Westness
Event:
Description:	Iron weaving sword in several pieces, from the grave of a rich Viking woman at Westness, Orkney Socket, probably broken from sword X.IL 732 A, showing remains of wood, from Westness, Orkney Part of an iron knife retaining part of wooden handle, from Westness, Orkney Incomplete pair of iron shears with slightly expanded end to handle, from Westness, Orkney Two iron heckles rusted together, with corroded textile remains, from Westness, Orkney Iron sickle with missing tip, from Westness, Orkney
References:	Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 136. Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, p 50. Find in NLS: Title, Author, Title+Author or British Library: Title, Author, Title+Author
Translations:
Related Records: