Fish-tail knife blades

European Museums, The British Museum

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Fish-tail knife blades

These knives have a broad forked 'fish-tail' cutting edge which became more v-shaped with time. A handle of wood or reed was fitted to them, as shown in the illustration. Finely knapped, the knives were clearly important possessions. They may have been used to cut the umbilical cord at birth, and symbolically at rebirth in the afterlife.

Knife with reed handle from Hierakonpolis

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Fish-tail knife blades

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Source:  London, United Kingdom