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Roots and Religion: The early Middle Ages in Kirklees
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Photograph of an Early Medieval iron strike-a-light, heavily corroded with a symmetrical, moustache-like shape and upturned hooked terminals. The object is shown from both sides against a white background with a black and white centimetre scale for reference, showing it to be around 8cm long. Add to board
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Early Medieval 'Strike a Light'

An early medieval ‘strike a light’. Suggested date 7th century AD.  

This small iron tool was used with a piece of flint to create sparks for lighting fires, which would have been an essential skill in daily life. The sparks were caught on tinder, natural materials such as dried moss or fungus, before being kindled into flame. These were very important items in a world without matches or electric light. 

Unique ID: LIN-EF72D9. From Portable Antiquities Scheme

Licence: CC BY

Stable link: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/936841