from Clibberswick, Unst, Shetland
Add to albumThis brass oval brooch was found with its pair and a bronze trefoil brooch in a Norse woman's grave at Clibberswick on Unst in Shetland, together with some glass beads and a plain silver bracelet which are now lost. The burial dates from between 850 and 900.
The brooch is of a type manufactured in the 8th and 9th centuries in Scandinavia. It is worn, obscuring much of the detail.
Until the tenth century, Viking women appear to have worn a shift. A pinafore was worn over this, held up by shoulder straps, often with oval brooches anchoring the straps on each shoulder. Shawls were also worn, fastened by a different type of brooch.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-000-099-737-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 223
- Date: 9th century
Between 850 and 900
- Material: Oval; bowl-shaped; textile imprint on reverse
Brooch
- Dimensions:
- What: Brooch
- Subject:
- Who: Lerwick Collection
- Where: Scotland, Shetland, Unst, Haroldswick, Clibberswick
- Event:
- Description: Oval brooch with textile imprint on reverse, from Clibberswick, Shetland, 9th century
- References:
- Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 64, 153-4.
- 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. 103-5.
- Translations:
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