Harness equipment

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These pieces of bronze harness equipment were found in a man's grave at Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried in a boat between 875 and 925 with a range of Scandinavian weapons, tools and a pin, together with his horse.

The harness equipment includes a strap separator, four strap ends, a buckle with strap end, and five matching openwork mounts. Many have incised ornament. The harness equipment was probably made in a workshop around the Irish Sea.

Harness and other horse equipment are often found in Viking graves from Scandinavia and western Europe. This was an expensive set, which would have looked impressive when complete.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-681-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
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• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between 875 and 925
  
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• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 118-22. 
  • 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 48-61, esp. pp 57-8. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp 79-84.
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