Bronze razors

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Bronze Age 3,500 -3,800 years ago

Field collection: Excavation, St Michael's Sandpit, Southfields Farm, Leuchars, Fife

Donated by Mr R Crerar
Museum number 1969-252-2=3

Most of the 49 burials at Southfield were cremations contained in urns. The rest were cremated bones which may have been originally contained in organic bags. There is a charred area near the centre of the cemetery which may have been the cremation pyre.The goods in this burial are linked to the tin trade between Cornwall, Scotland and mainland Europe. X Rays revealed a finely incised design on this razor. Bronze was a new material made of smelted imported tin and local copper. This razor was an object of prestige as well as a personal item and may have played a part in mourning rituals.