Brooches (backs)

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This pair of brass oval brooches was found in 1788 on Islay in the Inner Hebrides. They are almost certainly from the grave of a Scandinavian woman, and date from between 875 to 925. This picture shows the back of the brooches.

These brooches were made from two shells. The inner shells, pictured here from the back, preserve textile impressions of fine cloth and the remains of rivets for attaching both shells. The lugs for the brooch pins are also preserved.

In Scotland, the Vikings settled primarily in the Northern and Western Isles, as indicated by place names, hoards, and burials with distinctive grave goods. On Islay, other Viking Age burials were been found, some containing many grave goods.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-676-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 215
• Date: 10th century
  Between 875 and 925
  
• Material: Oval; bowl-shaped
  Brooch
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Islay
  
• Event:
• Description: Oval brooch with textile imprint on reverse, from Islay, 10th century
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, J. Viking artefacts. A select catalogue. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1980, no. 118. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, pp 41-2. 
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