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Loss Date: Circa: AD 902 [Possible] * Battle of Holme - see below:

Size: length: 81 mm: width: base.26 mm, tip. 17 mm: thickness: 24 mm: weight: 186.23 grams:

The whetstone sometimes referred to as a honestone, has been object known within the British Isles for millennium and they were used for sharpening metal blades where, a cutting edge needed to be maintained and managed during regular use:

Most early Medieval English whetstones were seen in a hard schist material known as Norwegian Ragstone: What is of particular interest is where I found this example: The stone was recovered 2 miles south-west of the village of Holme: A significant and large battle was fought between the Anglo-Saxons and Danish Vikings [under Danelaw], and it is possible that this whetstone may be a remnant of this battle:

* Battle of Holme:

This battle took place in East Anglia on 13^th December AD 902 between the Anglo-Saxon men of Wessex and Kent and the East Anglian Danes under Danelaw: It is thought that the battle took place around the modern day villages of Holme and Yaxley however the exact battle site is unknown … [to almost know body]!

"Following the death of Alfred the Great in AD 899, his son Edward the Elder became king, but his cousin Æthelwold, son of Alfred's elder brother, King Æthelwold claimed the throne. His bid was unsuccessful, and he fled to the Northumbrian Danes, who, according to one version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, accepted him as king. In 902 Æthelwold came with a fleet to Essex and the following year he persuaded the East Anglian Danes to attack Mercia and north Wessex. Edward retaliated by ravaging East Anglia and the Danish army was forced to return to defend its own territory. Edward then retreated, but the men of Kent disobeyed the order to retire, and they met the Danes at the battle of the Holme.

The course of the battle is unknown, but the Danes appear to have won as according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle they "kept the place of slaughter".However, they suffered heavy losses including Æthelwold, Eohric, probably the Danish king of East Anglia, Brihtsige, son of the aetheling Beornoth, and two holds, Ysopa and Oscetel. The battle thus ended Æthelwolds Revolt. Kentish losses included Sigehelm, father of Edward the Elder's third wife, Eadgifu of Kent. The West Saxon chronicler who gave the fullest account of the battle was at pains to explain why Edward and the rest of the English were not present, as if this had been a subject of criticism".

Reference material and further reading:

Where possible ancient artifacts may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:

British Artefacts Vol.1, 2 and 3: Brett Hammond [Greenlight Publishing 2010]:
Celtic & Roman Artefacts: Nigel Mills [Greenlight Publishing 2007]:

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome: Mary Beard [Profile Books 2015]:

50 Bronze Age Artefacts: Portable Antiquities Scheme: Dot Boughton [Amberley Publishing 2021]:

Pottery in Britain 4000BC to AD 1900: Lloyd Laing [Greenlight Publishing 2003]:

British Iron Age Coins In The British Museum: Richard Hobbs [British Museum 1996]:

Swords of The Viking Age: Ian Peirce: [The Boydell Press 2003]:

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Volume 85: [Cambridge University Press
2019]

Mesolithic Europe: Geoff Bailey / Penny Spikins [Cambridge University Press 2008]

Viking Art: James Graham-Campbell: [Thames & Hudson, London 2018]

Roman Coins Vol. 1, 2 & 3: David R Sear: [Spink London 2000]:

The Roman Cavalry: Karen R. Dixon: [B. . Batsford 1997]:

Rome’s Saxon Shore: Coastal Defenses of Roman Britain AD 250 – 500: Nic Fields [Osprey Publishing 2006]:

Amulets of Ancient Egypt: Carol Andrews: [University of Texas Press / British Museum Press 1994]:

The Uniforms of the Roman World: Military dress, weapons, artillery, ships, siege engines and fortifications: Kevin F. Killey: [Anness Publishing 2017]:

Where possible finger rings may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:

Victorian and Albert Museum CATALOGUE OF FINGER RINGS 1930: C.C.Oman [Anglia Publishing. 1991 – Now out of print]:

Finger Rings: Diana Scarisbrick / Martin Henig: [Ashmolean Museum Oxford. 2003]:

Ancient Rings An Illustrated Collectors Guide: T. N. Polio: [McFarland & Co Inc. 2018:

1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments of the Hand: Le Van, Marthe; Ebendorf, Robert [W: Lark Books 2004]: