Axeheads, rings and ornament

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These bronze objects are from a hoard found at Poolewe in Ross-shire. It contained five axeheads, three rings (two pictured here) and an ornament. They were buried sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

All of the axes have sockets. One is decorated with three lines and pellets. Two of the axeheads are fragmentary. The ornament with cup-shaped ends resembles gold examples from this period.

Some hoards were buried with rare and unusual objects, probably as offerings to the gods. In the late Bronze Age period, a range of objects were included in these votive hoards. People or tribes may have competed to make the richest offerings.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-434-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DO 20
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; trumpet-shaped ends
  Ring, penannular
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Poolewe
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze penannular ring with trumpet-shaped ends, from Poolewe, Ross and Cromarty
  
• 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, 72, 91, 129. 
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