WHETSTONE

Incomplete whetstone of probable Early Medieval or Medieval date (c.800 – 1400). The whetstone is formed from a very fine sedimentary mica rich sandstone or siltstone and bedding planes are clearly visible in the profile. The whetstone is broadly sub-rectangular in plane with slightly tapering sides, and is also sub-rectangular in cross section. The edges are slightly bevelled. A relatively small suspension hole has been drilled in the upper part of the whetstone; this has been achieved by drilling (probably using a bow saw / drill) from both edges which has created an egg-timer shaped hole. The hole itself is oval in shape (5.1mm x 3.9mm) and this is partly due to the position of the two holes not aligning. It may also have been functional so that the chord suspended the whetstone vertically. As the whole is oval, it is likely to be partially due to wear. The upper surface of the whetstone has been used and this has caused it to thin. This is most evident on the upper edge where a clear hollow can be observed. This hollow is most evident at a point 2/3rds along the length of the whetstone, suggesting that the upper part was held whilst sharpening. The opposite end is broken, but the edge is smooth, possibly suggesting a break during the working life of the stone which although caused damage did not mean it had to be discarded. The whetstone measures 38.1mm length, 14.1mm maximum width, is 6.7mm maximum thickness and weighs 6.2 grams. The stone itself is a mid purple brown colour. It has not been possible to source the stone type, but similar fine grained sedimentary rocks are common in the Marches and it is likely that it is made of a local stone type. It is definitely to a schist stone (imported from Norway) which is commonly used to make whetstones in the Anglo-Scandinavian period (800-1050 AD). It is difficult to narrow the date range further as functional artefacts tend not to change shape or style. Therefore it is possible that this whetstone was made between the later Iron Age and the Modern period 200 BC – 1800 AD. However, this example is most likely to date from the later early medieval or the medieval period (800-1400 AD) where small whetstones with perforated holes were commonly worn and produced. It is possible that it may have been suspended with a knife sheath and was a piece of personal equipment. Similar examples to this whetstone have been recorded by the PAS and can also been seen in Saunders, Salisbury Museum Catalogue (volume 1).