Bowl & bracelets

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This stone bowl containing the two gold bracelets was found during ploughing at a farm at Hillhead near Wick in Caithness. The hoard was buried sometime between 950 and 750 BC, probably as an offering to the gods.

The plain, penannular bracelets with evenly expanded terminals are of a type also found in bronze examples at this period.

Only the wealthiest and highest status people had access to gold in Bronze Age Britain.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-033-189-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FE 70
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Gold
  Gold
  Micaceous sandstone
  Bowl
  Bracelet
  Bracelet
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Bowl
  Bracelet
  Bracelet
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Caithness, Wick, Hillhead Farm
  Scotland, Caithness, Wick, Hillhead Farm
  Scotland, Caithness, Wick, Hillhead Farm
  
• Event:
• Description: Bowl of micaceous sandstone in which two gold bracelets were found, from Hillhead Farm, Wick, Caithness
  Late Bronze Age gold bracelet from Hillhead, Caithness
  Late Bronze Age gold bracelet from Hillhead, Caithness
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), 16-134, esp. p 89. 
• Translations:
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