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• 1 2017-05-22T10:37:06-07:00 Whetstone 8 object page plain 2017-09-21T16:56:56-07:00 In the early years of the Norse occupation of England, the Norse people cut and slashed their way through England,^[1] with the intention of colonization. They did so by utilizing weapons and armies, marching through the English mainland. In an army, it is crucial for weapons to be kept primed and ready. In the early years of the Norse occupation of England, this meant keeping your swords and axes sharp. This would require a whetstone of some kind, multiple of which have been found in areas of Norse occupation. The finding of whetstones is important, because it shows the potential positions of Norse warriors, as well as a possible significance of religion to the warriors.
  
  Whetstones would have been very important to the Norse people. This Whetstone, found in Lincolnshire, was likely put into commission around 800 AD. Whetstones like these were used to sharpen tools and weapons, as they still are used today. The whetstone is made of sandstone. It was likely produced by grinding stones. Found in February of 2017, it likely belonged to a Norse settler of England, based on the proximity to Danelaw.
  
  The finding of this whetstone supports many of the stories and depictions of the Norse settlers of England. The Norse were depicted as raiders and conquerors, who slashed and cut their way through most of mainland England in the 850s. Naturally, bands of warriors would want to have whetstones available to themselves, as they used them to keep their weapons sharp. Whetstones were also important culturally, as they are said to have originated from Thor’s duel with a giant.^[2] The finding of this whetstone is important because it reveals to modern historians the possible location of Norse warriors in the early years of the colonization of England, as well as the possible significance of religion to the Norse.