From Fife Shetland, Orkney Aberdeenshire Moray and Sutherland
000-100-033-046-C © National Museums Scotland |
|
Maceheads of stone
A mace was a ceremonial weapon. These six stone maceheads were found in Fife, in Shetland, at Egilsay on Orkney, at Old Deer in Aberdeenshire, at Urquhart in Moray and at Airdens in Sutherland. They were prestige items, used to display status.
The first two maceheads are of the 'cushion type', the next two of the 'pestle type' and the last two, the smallest in the group, of the 'Maesmawr type'. They are all polished and finished with care. All were originally mounted on handles.
Maceheads could have been used as weapons, but their chief role was as symbols of power. They took time and skill to make. This is particularly true of the 'Maesmawr' flint maceheads, since flint is especially hard to perforate and to decorate.
Record details
To search on related items, click any linked text below.
Online ID: |
000-100-033-046-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 186 |
Date: |
Between 3100 and 1700 BC
|
Material: |
Granite, grey Hornstone; lozenge-shaped spaces incuse; on sides straight lines irregular Serpentine, mottled; blunted edges at right angles to haft hole; polished Serpentine; haft hole at right angles to the cutting ends; polished Stone Stone, white; hard; finely polished; ornamented with lozenge-shaped patterns
|
Dimensions: |
2.44" L x 1.75" W 3.00" x 2.00" 3.25" x 2.25" 3.94" x 1.38" 4.75" x 2.38" x 2.13" 5.56" x 1.69"
|
What: |
Mace head Mace head Mace head Mace head Mace head Mace head
|
Subject: |
|
Who: |
Clerk Collection
|
Where: |
Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Old Deer Scotland, Fife Scotland, Moray, Urquhart, Kenny's Cairn Scotland, Orkney, Egilsay Scotland, Shetland Scotland, Sutherland, Airdens
|
Event: |
|
Description: |
Mace head of finely polished hard white stone, Maesmawr type, ornamented with lozenge-shaped patterns, found near Kenny's Cairn, Urquhart, Moray Mace head of polished serpentine, cushion type, from a barrow on Shetland Mace head of grey granite, Orkney pestle type, from Old Deer, Aberdeenshire Mace head of polished mottled serpentine, cushion type, from Fife Neolithic flint mace head, Maesmawr type, with lozenge-shaped spaces incuse, from Airdens, Sutherland Stone mace head, Thames pestle type, from Egilsay, Orkney
|
References: |
- Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, pp 256-7.
|
Translations: |
|
Related Records: |
|