Hair ornament

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This gold hair ornament was found at Gogar Burn in Midlothian together with a sword and scabbard fitting. It was an expensive of item of dress, worn to impress, dating from between 950 and 750 BC.

The hair ornament is cracked in places and damaged on one end.

Only the wealthiest and highest status people had access to gold in Bronze Age Britain. Items such as this one were worn to confirm the status and wealth of their aristocratic owners.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-466-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FE 7
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Gold; penannular; small
  Ring, lock
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, lock
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Gogar Burn
  
• Event:
• Description: Gold lock ring found at Gogar Burn, Midlothian
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. pp 35-6, 91, 118. 
• Translations:
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