000-100-033-069-C © National Museums Scotland |
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Maceheads
A mace was a ceremonial weapon. These five stone maceheads, all deliberately broken, were found at Bookan on Orkney, near the stone circle and ritual complexes of Stenness and Brodgar. They were buried between 2900 and 1700 BC.
All the maceheads have been broken at the perforations through which wooden handles were inserted.
Maceheads could have been used as weapons, but their chief role was as symbols of power. They took time and skill to make. They were sometimes deliberately sacrificed to the gods, as these examples surely are.
Record details
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Online ID: |
000-100-033-069-C |
Image Rights Holder: |
National Museums Scotland |
Project: |
0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project |
Ref: |
National Museums Scotland X.AH 184 |
Date: |
Between 2900 and 1700 BC
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Material: |
Flint, red and grey, polished Quartzite, whitish Stone; broken through perforation Stone; flat; oval section Stone; polished; broken across perforation
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Dimensions: |
1.38" L 1.63" x 1.31" D
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What: |
Mace head / portion Mace head / portion Mace head / portion Mace head / portion Mace head / portion
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Subject: |
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Who: |
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Where: |
Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
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Event: |
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Description: |
Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
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