Whetstone

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Whetstones were used to sharpen metal tools. This sandstone example was found at Adabrock on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in a hoard of tools, weapons, vessel fragments and beads. The hoard was buried between 950 and 750 BC.

Piece of sandstone from Adabrock, Lewis

The Adabrock hoard demonstrates the widespread and complex links between the elite of Scotland and the outside world during the early first millennium BC. The inclusion of whetstones in this hoard seems to underline the importance of such simple tools.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-638-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DQ 226
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Sandstone
  Sandstone / portion
  
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• What: Sandstone / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Adabrock
  
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• Description:
• 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. p 127. 
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