A scutching knife is a type of object used for processing fibres from plants such as flax, hemp or nettles: following retting (soaking), the plant fibres are beaten (scutched) with objects such as the example here, which indeed showed some evidence of wear.

This example was fashioned from slow grown oak. It is in excellent condition and complete. The hole at the tip is part of the design but is of uncertain function, perhaps for suspending the tool whilst not in use.

It was found on the base of a pit together with a bark container. Despite the tool’s function, the pit did not seem to have been associated with plant fibre processing and is instead interpreted as a possible ritual shaft, with the tool and other finds being votive deposits.