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Brooch

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from Clibberswick, Unst, Shetland

Brooch
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This bronze brooch was found with a pair of oval brooches 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.

This picture shows the back of the brooch. The hinge and catch for the pin are visible on two of the lobes of the brooch.

Trefoil brooches became popular for women in the early Viking period in Scandinavia. They appear to have developed from Frankish sword mounts of this shape, some even adapting some Carolingian ornament. They were used to fasten a shawl or cloak.

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