Summary

Bronze shears, possibly used as early as the 10th century, from Birsay, Orkney

Accession Number

H.FG 6

Other references

Original description

Caption note, March 1993: Shears were normally used before the 16th century for domestic purposes for which we should use scissors. This bronze example may be as early as the 10th century A.D. From Birsay, Orkney. [Archaeology description] MISCELLANEOUS ORNAMENTS, CHIEFLY BRONZE. Bronze shears, 7 1/4" long, from moss at Birsay, Orkney.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Birsay and Harray, Orkney, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1878

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Henry Leask

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Donor

Image

None