Bracelets

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These six silver bracelets are part of the large Viking Age silver hoard found at Burray in Orkney, deposited around 997 and 1010. They are examples of a distinctive Viking Age bracelet type common in Scotland, called 'ring-money'.

Like all but one of the 26 complete and 105 pieces of 'ring-money' found in the hoard, these examples are plain. Some have nicks - small cuts made to check the silver purity. Analyses have shown that the silver was quite base.

Although the origins of 'ring-money' are to be found in the Irish Sea region, the main area for its use was clearly in the Scandinavian areas of Scotland. They were used as money, weighed on a balance along with other silver objects, coins or hacksilver.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-097-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 250
• Date: 997 - 1010
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  Deposited around 997 and 1010
  
• Material: Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, Orkney, 997 - 1010
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp. 51-2, 57-9, 76, 132. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
• Translations:
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