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Elcho
Sword(S) (Bronze)(Bronze Age)
Site Name Elcho
Classification Sword(S) (Bronze)(Bronze Age)
Alternative Name(s) Seggieden; Seggiedon; Darry Island; Elcho Castle; 'river Tay'
Canmore ID 28202
Site Number NO12SE 16
NGR NO 16 21
NGR Description NO c. 16 21
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/28202
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Rhynd
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
Field Visit (12 June 1964)
NO12SE 16 c. 16 21.
Three Late Bronze Age swords have been found in the Tay, opposite or near Elcho (J M Coles 1962):-
A - of Wilburton type, showing Ewart Park influence (J M Coles 1962), 23 1/2ins long, with a slotted hilt-plate, and two rivet-holes in the wings. Presented to Perth Museum in 1854 (Accession no. 136) and still there (Visited by OS {W D J} 12 June 1964).
B - of Hallstatt type (J M Coles 1962), with a broken point, found in 1865; 24 3/4 ins long, with three rivet-holes in each wing, and four in the hilt-plate. In the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS Accession no. DL 4). (A G Reid 1898 and J M Coles 1962)
C - 23 3/4 ins long, hilt-plate concealed by a modern handle. At one time in the Perth Museum (J Anderson 1888 and A G Reid 1898); not there now.
J Anderson 1888; A G Reid 1898; J M Coles 1962.
Visited by OS (W D J) 12 June 1964.
Publication Account (1988)
A. (no. 226) (Wilburton type - variant G). Found in the R. Tay by the fishermen of Darry Island opposite Elcho, in 1854. Complete sword, L. 59.85cm; Term.w. 4.00cm; Sh.w. 5.45cm; M.b.w. 4.45cm; slight messy black patina. Well cast, in good condition, and edge still quite sharp; rivets, Sl:4, none in situ - Perth Mus. (1338). B. (no. 743) (Gundlingen type - variant d). From R. Tay, near Elcho Castle in 1865. - Sword with point missing, L. 62.90cm; Term.w. 3.40cm; Sh.w. 5.50cm; M.b.w. 3.38cm; in extremely good condition, but one curled shoulder. No patina on blade, dark brown patina on hilt; rivets, 2 + 2:4 (+2bl), six in situ. C B Burgess and I Colquhoun 1988.
Note (19 January 1993)
The Late Bronze Age sword that was recovered from the River Tay, at Seggieden (now Seggiedon) is now preserved in Perth Museum (PMAG 1338). It was found by the fishermen of Darry Island and presented to the Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth by Provost Dewar in November 1854. The sword is of Wilburton type (c.950-750 BC), with a leaf-shaped blade, a flanged slotted tang and widely projecting shoulders with rivet-holes for attachment of the hilt-plates.
Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 19 January 1993.
