Pendant and beads

Add to album

This glass pendant was found at Monquhitter in Aberdeenshire and the two lithomarge beads at Cnoc Rioch on Oronsay in the Inner Hebrides and in the River Lyon near Fortingall in Perthshire. They were all probably valued as charms or amulets.

The glass pendant from Montquhitter is flattened on one arc, and broken in places. The two beads are of lithomarge, a kind of rock which has a marbled appearance.

Simple objects functioned as charms and amulets for a number of reasons. In some cases, the material set the objects apart, perhaps because of rarity or unusual beauty.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-035-856-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FN 165
• Date: Pendant: Between 100 and 300 AD; Beads: between 0 and 400 AD
  
• Material: Lithomarge
  Lithomarge
  Variegated glass; flattened on one arc; imperfect
  Bead
  Bead
  Bead
  
• Dimensions: 1.38" x 0.44"
  2.25" x 1.81"
  
• What: Bead
  Bead
  Bead
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Monquhitter, Cairnhill
  Scotland, Argyll, Oronsay, Cnoc Rioch
  Scotland, Perthshire, Fortingall, River Lyon
  
• Event:
• Description: Bead of variegated glass, flattened on one arc, from Monquhitter
  Lithomarge bead found in the River Lyon near Fortingall, Perthshire
  Lithomarge bead from Cnoc Rioch, Oronsay
  
• References:
  • Anderson, Joseph. Notices of cists discovered in a cairn at Cairnhill, Parish of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, and at Doune, Perthshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 36 (1901-2). 
  • Guido, Margaret. The glass beads of the Prehistoric and Roman periods in Britain and Ireland. London: Society of Antiquaries of London, 1978, pp 88-9, 198. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: