Pestle Macehead, Egilsay, Orkney

3D Model

This late Neolithic (c.3100-2400 cal BC) ‘Thames’ pestle macehead was found on Egilsay, Orkney and donated to National Museums Scotland by Walter W. Grant in 1930. Just over 100 maceheads are known from Orkney, but the vast majority are broken; this is the largest complete Pestle form.

Maceheads were important status symbols in the Neolithic and considerable time and effort was expended in their manufacture. These artefacts may also have had practical functions as tools for pole-axing animals or as weapons. The present of fine pitting on the front face of this example indicates that it was used.

L:110.2mm, B:60.1mm, T:54.5mm. W:539g

NMS X.AH 186. © National Museums Scotland.

This model was produced for a Leverhulme Trust funded project ‘Working stone, making communities: technology and identity on prehistoric Orkney’ Directed by Prof Mark Edmonds, University of York.