Urn and pot

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This steatite urn and small pot were found in a disturbed two-storeyed cist grave at Little Asta at Tingwall in Shetland. Both pots were empty when found, but some cremated bones were found in the cist. The burial probably dates from 1800 to 1200 BC.

The urn is thick-walled, with curving sides. The smaller pot is roughly rectangular in shape.

Inhabitants of the Northern Isles had their own distinctive funerary customs during the 2nd millennium BC, burying their dead in distinctive pots. Some used local supplies of steatite, a soft and easily carved stone, for their urns and accessory vessels.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-035-090-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EK 37
• Date: Probably between 1800 and 1200 BC
  
• Material: Steatite; bowl-shaped; restored
  Steatite; rectangular
  Urn
  Vessel
  
• Dimensions: 11.00" D
  4.75" x 4.38" at mouth
  
• What: Urn
  Vessel
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Shetland, Tingwall, Asta
  Scotland, Shetland, Tingwall, Asta
  
• Event:
• Description: Steatite urn from Little Asta, Tingwall, Shetland
  Small steatite vessel from Little Asta, Tingwall, Shetland
  
• References:
  • Corrie, J.M. Notes on (1) a two-storeyed grave at Little Asta, Shetland; (2) certain prehistoric relics from Shetland; and (3) a Viking brooch of silver from Skaill Bay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 66 (1931-2), 69ff. 
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