Scale and weights

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This bronze scale and seven weights were found in a man's grave at Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried between 875 and 925 with a range of Scandinavian weapons, tools and a pin. He was probably a trader as well as a warrior.

The scales are an equal arm balance with pans for weighing items, suspended originally from thin chains or threads. The weights all have lead bases, six with tops made from cut-up bronze or enamel metalwork reused from other objects.

In the Viking world, silver and, to a lesser extent, gold were used as a medium of exchange, weighed on balances. Any type of silver, complete objects or hacksilver, was valid tender. Much of the silver was nicked and bent to test its purity.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-686-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 783
• Date: 9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  9th century
  Between 875 and 925
  
• Material: Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  Weight
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Kiloran Bay
  
• Event:
• Description: Lead weight decorated on the upper surface by an ornamental bronze plate in the Celtic style, from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead weight with an inlaid decorative plate on the upper surface from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead weight with zoomorphic ornamented Celtic style plate on upper surface from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead weight decorated on one side with a stamped circle ornament from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead circular weight with Celtic style decorative plate on upper surface found at a Viking grave at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead weight with inlaid decorative plate on upper surface from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  Lead weight with a zoomorphic Celtic style gilt-bronze ornamented plate, with amber settings, on upper surface from a Viking grave found at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay, Argyll, 9th century
  
• 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 54-7. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp 79-84.
• Translations:
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