Scandinavian Lucets

Dear Viking Answer Lady:

What evidence do we have that the Vikings used lucets?

(signed) In Knots Waiting For Your Answer

Gentle Reader:

As far as I am aware, we do not have archaeological evidence of actual lucet cord from the viking Age. There are artifacts from the Anglo-Scandinavian town of York, and another from Sweden, that some scholars identify as lucets, but this identification is not certain.

Below are thmbnail images of four bone lucets from the World of the Vikings CD-ROM. Clicking on the thumbnail will open a full-size photo in a separate window.

Most of the Anglo-Scandinavian lucets found at York appear to have been crafted from a cow nasal bone, which naturally has the general shape seen here. The Swedish example appears to be made from a long bone, perhaps a leg bone, and utilizes the natural hollow in the middle.

Bone lucet from Jorvik (York)	Bone lucet from Jorvik (York) with modern cord showing technique
Several bone lucets from Jorvik (York)	Bone lucet from Skåne, Sweden