Record ID: PUBLIC-19779A
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: East Riding of Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fine grained compacted pale sandstone whetstone fragment. The remaining fragment is sub-rectangular and rounded on the unbroken face. There are four smooth surfaces worn on the unbroken face, and the object appears to have been used to sharpen small implements, such as knives. The object fits comfortably into the palm of the hand for the purpose of sharpening implements. The use of probable local stone for sharpening stones is characteristic of the period between the later Iron Age and the middle Saxon period. Other finds from the site would probably make a Roman or later date most …
Created on: Thursday 8th March 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 13th March 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: YORYM-FDCD38
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: East Riding of Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Stone pendant whetstone of probable early medieval date (c. 800 - 1100 AD). The whetstone is a long rectangular cuboid in shape with a surface that has been worn smooth through use. A rectangular flat projection of stone extends from the top; this is perforated with a circular hole so that the object could be worn as a pendant. The whetstone is dark purple in colour. It is 52.55mm in length, 13.93mm in width and 6.87mm in thickness. It weighs 8.79g. Portable whetstones of this form were used in the Bronze Age as well as the early medieval and medieval periods. An early medieval dat…
Created on: Wednesday 7th March 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 27th March 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-03C3AA
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Rochdale
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fine grained sandstone cobble which has been used as a whetstone on three faces, of unknown date, Bronze Age onwards (2350 BC - AD 1900). The stone is fine grained and is a pale yellow grey colour. It is rectangular in plan, sub-rectangular in cross-section and has rounded ends. One long face is extremely worn; polished and concave. The two neighbouring long faces are also polished, but not as much. It is 140.7mm long, 52.5mm wide and 43mm thick. 612g.
Created on: Friday 23rd February 2018
Last updated: Thursday 9th May 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NLM-D6615D
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: North Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Stone possible whetstone. A small dense compact dark grey pebble of triangular section with rounded ends and sharply defined arises between its flat faces, probably initially formed by wind erosion in a dusty or icy environment. One side, however, is lightly hollowed, probably by wear arising from use as a sharpening stone, and handling may have contributed to the smooth finish of other surfaces. The use of improvised whetstones, often recovered from Glacial Drift, was characteristic of a long period from Prehistory, through the Roman period, and up to the Viking Age introduction of s…
Created on: Wednesday 21st February 2018
Last updated: Wednesday 21st February 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Low Burnham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-F85E33
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: East Riding of Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fine grained, pale grey, oblong shaped sandstone, with some plough damage at one end of the reverse face, used as a whetstone. Both faces are smoothed by wear, and the edges are rounded and show evidence of being used for sharpening blades. The improvised use of various stones from glacial drift for sharpening or rubbing stones is characteristic of the Roman and Early Medieval periods until the Viking Age, when Scandinavian stones from the Telemark region became widely available. Suggested date: Unknown, Roman to Early Medieval, 43-850. The known history of the site leans towards…
Created on: Monday 29th January 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 30th January 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: KENT-CD8E88
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, fine-grained sandstone whetstone of unknown date. Description: The whetstone is incomplete roughly surviving at 50% of original length, it is ovoid in section and was likely a long thin pointed oval in plan although one pointed end is missing. The remaining point is round and blunt and the broken edge is fairly worn. each wide flat surface has been heavily worn with use leaving the whetstone much thinner towards the middle of the whetstone. The Whetstone is a cream colour with some iron staining. Measurements: 95.97mm long, 25.97mm wide, 14.53mm thick and 40.2g in…
Created on: Monday 15th January 2018
Last updated: Wednesday 17th January 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-DA2851
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
One end of a rectangular sectioned whetstone and a non-joining end fragment which may or may not be from the same stone. The larger piece narrows and thins to a sharp point at the complete end. The smaller piece is triangular in section, probably due to the amount of wear on one face and worn to a flat edge with a rounded corner at the complete end. Fine grained non-micaceous rock. The larger fragment is 107.2 mm long, 38.9mm wide and 27.4mm thick it weighs 128.9 grams. The smaller is 42.6mm long, 31.8mm wide, 11.9mm thick and weighs 19.2g. While not diagnositic on their own these …
Created on: Thursday 16th November 2017
Last updated: Thursday 16th November 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SOM-D9EF94
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
One end of a rectangular and rectangular secetioned whet stone with a drilled circular hole through the remaining complete end. Fine grained non-micaceous rock formed and broken along distinct layers with flat sides, slightly rounded corners and edges and a slightly concave face, probably from use. The fragment is 49.0mm long, 33.7mm wide and 9.8mm thick it weighs 32 grams. While not diagnositic on its own it was found in a group of Roman material and is likely to be of that date although there is some late 18th century material also on the field.
Created on: Thursday 16th November 2017
Last updated: Thursday 16th November 2017
Spatial data recorded.

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Record ID: HESH-F4BF9B
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Shropshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An 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 plan with parallel sides and sub-rectangular cross section. The edges are slightly bevelled and the top is rounded. 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 s…
Created on: Tuesday 24th October 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 19th November 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ludlow', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-0584C2
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a conical whetstone of probable post-medieval date. The object is made from a quartz-rich, fine-grained sandstone, is sub-circular in section and probably lathe-turned. It is broken at both ends. These type of whetstones were often used on a spindle, but this does not appear to be the case with this example as there are numerous flat spots along its length from being drawn lengthways across a blade. Suggested date is post-medieval, AD1600-1800. The object is 51.72mm in length and 37.1mm, tapering to 32.42mm, in diameter. It weighs 96gms.
Created on: Friday 13th October 2017
Last updated: Monday 16th October 2017
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Skidbrooke', grid reference and parish protected.