Record ID: LIN-3D5C6E
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Early Medieval whetstone, dating to the period c. AD 410-1066. The whetstone is rectangular in cross section, and broadly rectangular in plan. It tapers to a rounded terminal at its apex, and a circular perforation measuring 5mm is present towards this end. This aperture contains a brown-red substance which possibly forms the remains of a means of attachment. The butt end has rounded corners and evidence of wear is present in the form of areas of abrasion which have a brown patination. This wear does not however seem consistant with its intended use. Further areas of damage…
Created on: Monday 11th January 2016
Last updated: Friday 18th May 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'East Lindsey', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-C8197A
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete whetstone of probable early-medieval date (c. AD 800 - 1100). Description: The whetstone is formed from a very fine-grained, sedimentary, mica-rich stone with distinct bedding planes. It is sub-trapezoidal in plan with tapering sides and is sub-rectangular in cross section. Both ends are broken, probably in antiquity. All sides are flat and three are very smooth. The fourth side is of a rougher texture with several lines scored across its surface, typical of those found on many whetstones and part of the sharpening process. Measurements: Length 58.67mm: Width 31.0…
Created on: Wednesday 16th May 2018
Last updated: Friday 18th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: FASAM-F55282
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Published
An inscribed Roman stone stilus sharpener / whetstone. The stone is fine-grained green (slate?). The piece is 46.7mm long, 21.7mm wide and 8.2mm deep. There is a deep groove along the upper face where the stilus would be sharpened. The Latin inscription on the front face is: [M?]ΛNDΛCVS MATTΛVI which probably translates as 'Mandacus(?), son of Mattavus'. It is a possible Celtic / British name and patronym.
Created on: Thursday 13th October 2016
Last updated: Saturday 12th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-36B0EE
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of whetstone of unknown date. Description: The object is made from a fine-grained, quartz-rich sandstone, is sub-rectangular in section and trapezoidal in plan, broken across both ends. There are several lines scored across one surface, typical of those found on many whetstones and part of the sharpening action. Measurements: Length78.51mm, width 48.29mm, thickness 23.89mm, weight 121g Discussion: Dating of whetstones is difficult as they were used from the later Iron Age to modern times. The location and associated finds suggest an early-medieval to early post-m…
Created on: Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd April 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: 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: 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: LIN-93ADE1
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A very large whetstone, measuring 398mm x 45mm x 30mm. The whetstone is rectangular in plan and also in cross-section. The whetstone is a very fine grained light brown-grey colour, originally discovered in three pieces at the same place and later restored by the finder. The whetstone is very smooth and worn on three faces only. The fourth face is less smooth and has a different patina to the rest of the object, having a dark grey-brown patina extending approximately 3/4ths of the length.
Created on: Friday 9th June 2006
Last updated: Thursday 1st February 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Kesteven', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LIN-01B557
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete whetstone, probably Roman or Anglo-Saxon in date. The whetstone is oval in cross-section and tapers slightly to the break. The surface is smooth and worn. The stone is a light grey sandstone.
Created on: Tuesday 4th November 2008
Last updated: Thursday 1st February 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Threekingham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LIN-FA3685
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A ?schist whetstone. The whetstone is roughly rectangular in plan and in cross-section, and broken at either end. The sides are very smooth.
Created on: Tuesday 17th March 2009
Last updated: Thursday 1st February 2018
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sleaford', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LIN-DBA476
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete schist whetstone. The whetstone is rectangular in plan and in cross-section.
Created on: Thursday 7th October 2010
Last updated: Thursday 1st February 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LIN-A18C43
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete whetstone. The object is rectangular in plan and in cross-section. The sides are very smooth and worn. The material is a pale grey-blue colour.
Created on: Tuesday 30th June 2009
Last updated: Thursday 1st February 2018
Spatial data recorded.

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: WILT-38BCE2
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Wiltshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete sarsen Iron Age or Roman saddle quern or grinding stone, subsequently used as a polishing stone or whetstone. The object is 240 mm long and 110 mm at its widest point. It is slightly curved and 88 mm thick at its deepest point. Two of the surfaces, abutting each other, are smooth and have been used as a whetstone; each displays a single groove a few millimetres wide. One of the grooves is 130 mm long and the other is 148 mm long. The other two surfaces show the usual rougher surface of the natural stone. Ruth Shaffrey comments: Quern reuse is very common. In fact, mos…
Created on: Wednesday 28th June 2017
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.

Record ID: YORYM-4C1CF5
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Incomplete stone whetstone of unknown date (c. 800 BC - 1900 AD). The whetstone is sub-rectangular in plan with a D-shaped section as it is flat on the bottom and rounded on the top. The whetstone has been broken at one end leaving a rough surface. The bottom surface is also rough while the top surface is relatively smooth on two sides and slightly pitted on the other. The stone is dark brown in colour with light brown patches. The length of the whetstone is 36.99mm with a width of 19.07mm and a thickness of 14.78mm. The weight of the whetstone is 19.96g. Whetstones are difficult…
Created on: Wednesday 4th October 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 25th October 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-054FC4
Object type: WHETSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of whetstone of unknown date. The object is made from a fine-grained, quartz-rich sandstone, is sub-square in section, slightly tapering and broken across both ends. There is also some post-depositional damage. Dating of whetstones is difficult as they were used from the later Iron Age to modern times. The location and associated finds suggest an early-medieval to early post-medieval date. The object is 64.7mm in length and 38.74 x 36.83, tapering to 34.19mm x 33.14mm, in width. It weighs 147g.
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.

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.