Dagger Blade, MacQueston Farm, Tynron
MacQueston Farm, Tynron
A short dagger or dirk from the Middle Bronze Age. This long
flat shaped blade tapers out to a rectangular flattened butt with
two notches, one at either side. There are two clearly defined
ridges along both sides of this rapier like blade. The main
difference between a dagger and a rapier at this time is the size
of the weapon. The design came from both native traditions and from
the European continent.
The first metalwork
Metal working was a complex and lengthy process. A small pit was
dug, filled with crushed ore and charcoal, and then ignited. The
temperature was raised by using bellows, perhaps made of animal
skin. Once smelting had occurred the molten metal collected in a
crucible and tipped into the mould. After cooling the casting was
removed and hammered to smooth any rough edges.
Cutting edges on axe heads would have been sharpened by
hammering or grinding. When stone moulds were in use shapes tended
to be simple, but about 3,500 years ago multiple section clay
moulds were developed which enabled more complicated shapes to be
made. Early Bronze Age metal workers used pure copper, but
this made objects which were flexible in use and difficult to cast.
After a period of experimentation, bronze, an alloy of 90 per cent
copper and 10 per cent tin was developed.
In Dumfries and Galloway most Bronze Age metalwork has been
found on lowlands and in river valleys. The River Nith especially
has revealed many finds, perhaps because traders and settlers used
it to move between the Solway shores and Ayrshire.
Object no :
RPD0089
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
overall length: 223 mm
Materials :
NA
Location :
MacQueston Farm, Tynron
Accession number :
DUMFM:1934.54
Copyright :
NA