Grave goods

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A Viking Age cemetery at Pierowall on Westray in Orkney has been eroding from the sands over the years, revealing a number of objects from Scandinavian graves. In the 19th century various poorly recorded excavations also took place.

This picture shows some of the finer objects from the more than 15 graves excavated. They include a brass oval brooch from a woman's grave, a tinned bronze drinking terminal mount, and a refashioned gilt bronze Irish/Pictish brooch with glass settings.

A number of weapons were also found, including the two spears, a sword (here pictured in two parts), a shield boss, and a very unusual axe hammer. The burials date from between 850 and 950.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-712-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 201
• Date: 9th century
  Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Bronze, gilt; curiously ornamented
  Bronze; flattened ends; ornamented interlaced panels
  Iron
  Iron
  Iron
  Iron; imperfect
  Oval; bowl-shaped
  Axe
  Brooch
  Brooch, penannular
  Drinking horn terminal
  Shield boss
  Spearhead
  Spearhead
  
• Dimensions: 8" L
  
• What: Axe
  Brooch
  Brooch, penannular
  Drinking horn terminal
  Shield boss
  Spearhead
  Spearhead
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Links of Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  Scotland, Orkney, Westray, Pierowall
  
• Event:
• Description: Drinking horn terminal of gilt bronze, from Pierowall, Westray
  Iron spearhead from Pierowall, Westray
  Oval tortoise brooch with textile imprints on the reverse, from Pierowall, Westray, 9th century
  Penannular bronze brooch with flattened ends and ornamented interlaced panels, from Pierowall, Westray
  Shield boss
  Axe
  Spearhead
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 132-134. 
  • Thorsteinsson, A. The Viking burial place at Pierowall, Westray, Orkney. In: Niclasen, B. (ed.) The Fifth Viking Congress: Tórshavn, July 1965. Tórshavn, 1968, pp 150-173. 
  • Youngs, Susan (ed). 'The Work of Angels'. Masterpieces of Celtic metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD. London: British Museums Publications Ltd, 1989, p 220. 
• Translations:
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