Weights

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These lead weights with metalwork caps were found together with a bronze set of scales in a man's grave at Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. He was buried with a range of Scandinavian weapons and tools. He was probably a trader as well as a warrior.

Pieces of metalwork from other objects were cut and mounted on the tops of lead bases on all but one of the weights. The metalwork caps determined the shapes of the weights.

This splendid weight set is unique for Scotland, although individual weights of similar forms have been found. A similar set was found in a Viking grave at Islandbridge near Dublin in Ireland. Unfortunately the objects in both sets are too damaged to allow a better understanding of Viking weight standards.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-791-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, J. Viking artefacts. A select catalogue. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1980, no. 307. 
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 118-22.14:32:53 
  • 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. 
• Translations:
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