Sickle

Burial from Veien – cremation grave from the Early Roman Iron Age
c.0-160CE

The sickle was found in a grave here in the field along with a knife, a bone comb, and a sewing needle. These items are found in various combinations in graves called 'tool graves.' The tool graves at Veien are dated to the Roman Iron Age. 

The difference between a billhook and a standard knife is the curved knife's edge. Billhooks are also different from sickles which have a sharpened edge on the inside of the curve. Billhooks were probably used for working hides and leather, by removing layers of fat and tissue from the animal skins which then would be worked into such as shoes.

Billhooks are commonly found in both male and female graves dating to the Roman Iron Age. We cannot be sure whether this a male or female grave, however, the size of the handle seems to be on the smaller side and not typically fitting for a man's hand.