from Westness, Rousay, Orkney
This steatite bowl was found in a Viking woman's grave which was eroding into the sea at Westness on Rousay in Orkney. She was buried with a range of grave goods, including tools for producing textiles and personal ornaments, sometime between 850 and 950.
The bowl is cracked but otherwise complete.
The Viking settlers used steatite for a wide range of artefacts including cooking vessels, spindle whorls, lamps and fishing line sinkers. They were familiar with its uses from Norway, and must have been pleased to find steatite outcropping in Shetland.
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