Detail of a wooden carving of a female figure

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This wooden carving of a female figure, probably a goddess, was found buried in a peat bog at Ballachulish in Inverness-shire. The figure was carved between 730 and 520 BC. This detail shows the figure's right hand.

The right hand of the figure holds a phallic object. This suggests that the figure may have been part of a fertility rite.

When found, the carving on the Ballachulish figure was crisp and sharp, suggesting that it had not lain for long on the surface of the bog. It was probably deliberately buried as part of a ritual.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-000-617-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KL 54
• Date: Between 730 and 520 BC
  Late Bronze Age, 725 - 500 BC
  
• Material: Wood, oak, with quartzite pebbles for eyes
  Carving / figure / female
  
• Dimensions: 1390 mm H x 145 mm L x 190 mm W
  
• What: Carving / figure / female
  
• Subject: Carved woodwork, painted ceilings (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Inverness-shire, Nether Lochaber, Ballachulish
  
• Event:
• Description: Figure of a female in oak, the oldest human figure from Scotland, from Ballachulish, 725 - 500 BC
  
• References:
  • Lochaber' multimedia programme, NMS 1995 
• Translations:
• Related Records: