Mugdrum Island
Battleaxe (Period Unassigned), Sword(S) (Bronze)(Period Unassigned)
Site Name Mugdrum Island
Classification Battleaxe (Period Unassigned), Sword(S) (Bronze)(Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) River Tay
Canmore ID 30082
Site Number NO21NW 25
NGR NO 22 18
NGR Description NO c. 22 18
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/30082
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Abernethy (Perth And Kinross)
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO21NW 25 c. 22 18
See also NO21NW 147.
The following have been dredged or fished from the River Tay near Mugdrum Island (NO 22 18):-
A: A polished axe or hammer of dark coloured whinstone found in 1866 (7) 6 1/2" long, with hourglass perforation (Evans 125). It is in the National Museum of Antiquities, (Accession no. AH 44) (J Anderson 1886 and PSAS 1870)
B: A late Bronze Age sword of Hallstatt type, 24 1/2" long with only 2" of taing remaining, in which are two rivets and two in each of the wings, in the Laing Free Library, Newburgh (PSAS 1899; J M Coles 1962)
C: A bronze sword 30 1/2" long (PSAS 1890) with U-type butt, three holes in each wing, and a slot in the tang, was found in 1889 to the North of Mugdrum Island. It is in the National Museum of Antiquities. (Accession no: DL 41) (PSAS 1899; J M Coles 1962)
D: A bronze sword found in the Tay near Newburgh is 26 1/2" long (J Anderson 1886; J Evans 1897)
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1870; J Anderson 1886; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1890; A H Millar 1895; J Evans 1897; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1899; J M Coles 1962.
Flange-hilted sword of Limehouse type - Mugdrum variant. Sword with heavy blade, L.77.30cm; Term.w.3.10cm; Sh.w. 6.85cm; M.b.w. 4.60cm; all the features are visible and the weapon intact, but the surface is pitted with a dark brown patina; rivets, Sl:6, non in situ - Edinburgh NMA (DL41).
Unclassified example of Gundlingen type. Sword, missing upper half of hilt L.62.20cm; Sh.w. 4.60cm; M.b.w. 2.55cm; messy dark khaki patina; widespread corrosion; rivets, 2(3?):4, pin rivets, five in situ - Newburgh, Laing Free Library and Museum.
C B Burgess and I Colquhoun 1988.
The discovery of at least three Late Bronze Age swords in the Tay in the Mugdrum Island/Newburgh area suggests that these may be part of a hoard or votive deposit.
Information from (CAA) RCAHMS, November 1989.
NMS AH 44 has been identified as a battle-axe of early form. It is petrologically similar to group XXVIII (quartz dolerite from several sources in Scotland and northern England).
T H McK Clough and W A Cummins 1988.
