Boiden
Cairn (Viking)(Possible), Shield (Viking), Spearhead (Iron)(Viking), Sword (Viking)
Site Name Boiden
Classification Cairn (Viking)(Possible), Shield (Viking), Spearhead (Iron)(Viking), Sword (Viking)
Canmore ID 42463
Site Number NS38NE 5
NGR NS 3555 8600
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/42463
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Luss
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Dumbarton
- Former County Dunbartonshire
NS38NE 5 3554 8600.
(NS 3554 8600) A much-rusted cross-handled sword, a large iron spearhead, and an iron or steel cup-like vessel (apparently the boss of a shield) were found together in 1851, two feet below the top of a mound called Boiden where a large cairn formerly stood, 40 feet to the west of the forester's house.
The sword is 2 feet 11 inches in length (the blade is 2 feet 6 inches long by 2 3/4 inches greatest breadth) and the spearhead is 11 inches long by 2 1/4 broad.
H J Stewart 1855
The sword, spearhead and vessel are Viking relics.
J Anderson 1875
The present whereabouts of these Viking type relics is unknown, but watercolour drawings are preserved in the NMAS. Boiden was visited on 12 July 1953 but there was no trace of the cairn. The present forester, Wm Cairns, had no knowledge of the finds.
Information from J G Scott, 14 July 1953.
There is now no trace of either cairn or mound.
Visited by OS (RDL) 21 January 1963
Note (1978)
Boiden NS 355 860 NS38NE 5
An iron sword of Viking type, a spearhead and shield boss were found together in 1851 0.6 m below the top of a mound upon which 'a large cairn formerly stood'.
RCAHMS 1978
(Stewart 1854, 144-5; Anderson 1874, 569)
