Urn

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This ceramic urn was found with a bronze razor and cremated human remains, buried in a cemetery of urns at Magdalen Bridge at Joppa near Edinburgh in Midlothian. The burial dates from between 1750 and 1500 BC.

The urn has low mouldings or cordons worked up from the surface of the clay. The upper section is decorated with whipped cord applied in panels.

By around 1750 BC, in mainland Scotland, cremation had become the favoured funerary custom. Cremated remains were usually placed in a large pottery urn, its top covered by a skin or stone. The urn was then buried upside down in a cist or pit.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-991-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EA 41
• Date: Between 1750 and 1500 BC
  
• Material: Clay
  Pottery / cinerary urn
  
• Dimensions: 12.00" x 9.50"
  
• What: Pottery / cinerary urn
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Joppa, Magdalen Bridge
  
• Event:
• Description: Cinerary urn of clay from Magdalen Bridge, Joppa
  
• 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, p 294. 
• Translations:
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