What country do you think this sickle came from?

Who would have used it? When do you think it was made?

This sickle was made in Okinawa, Japan. The sickle is an ancient tool with many distinctive designs characteristic of the different regions in which its use was adapted.

This sickle would have been used by farmers at harvest time to cut grains, such as rice, wheat, millet, and so on. It could also have been used by anyone wishing to mow down a large quantity of tall grass. This particular sickle was made in Okinawa sometime in the early twentieth century.

For more information, visit:

• This artifact in the Karshner Digital Collections
• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• Origins of Agriculture: Japan
• Japanese Farming
• History of Agriculture