Bowl of hammered brass

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This brass bowl was found at Dowalton Loch Crannog in Wigtownshire. It was an offering to the gods, deposited sometime between 650 and 1000.

The basin was hammered out of one sheet of metal. There are two holes at opposite sides, probably for mounts for supporting a carrying handle. The bowl was carefully finished on the outside to create a series of circular hammer marks.

Dowalton Loch appears to have been a sacred site for millennia. Prestigious objects dating from the Bronze Age to Medieval periods were found on the bed of the loch when it was drained. Vessels may have been symbolic of fertility and plenty.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-325-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HU 3
• Date: Between 650 and 1000
  
• Material: Bronze; hammered out of one sheet
  Basin
  
• Dimensions: 12.00" x 4.00"
  
• What: Basin
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Wigtownshire, Dowalton Loch (Crannog)
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze basin hammered out of one sheet, from Dowalton Loch Crannog
  
• References:
  • Hunter, Fraser. Dowalton Loch reconsidered. Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 3rd ser. 69 (1994), pp 53-71. 
• Translations:
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