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Maceheads of stone

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From Fife Shetland, Orkney Aberdeenshire Moray and Sutherland

Maceheads of stone
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A mace was a ceremonial weapon. These six stone maceheads were found in Fife, in Shetland, at Egilsay on Orkney, at Old Deer in Aberdeenshire, at Urquhart in Moray and at Airdens in Sutherland. They were prestige items, used to display status.

The first two maceheads are of the 'cushion type', the next two of the 'pestle type' and the last two, the smallest in the group, of the 'Maesmawr type'. They are all polished and finished with care. All were originally mounted on handles.

Maceheads could have been used as weapons, but their chief role was as symbols of power. They took time and skill to make. This is particularly true of the 'Maesmawr' flint maceheads, since flint is especially hard to perforate and to decorate.

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