Bowl

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This steatite bowl was found during ploughing at Bockan in Orkney. It was used between 850 and 1000. It was old and repaired when it was discarded.

The round cooking bowl was made using a single block of steatite. During its use, a piece had been broken, and held in place with two iron rods.

Steatite was valued by the Vikings, used for a range of objects including cooking vessels, spindle whorls and lamps. This bowl had been brought from the Norwegian homeland and used for a long time, getting damaged and repaired, before being discarded or deposited.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-035-093-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EK 39
• Date: Between 850 and 1000
  
• Material: Steatite
  Vessel
  
• Dimensions: 12.00" D
  Rim diameter: 30.5cm
  
• What: Vessel
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Bookan
  
• Event:
• Description: Large steatite vessel holed in the base and repaired with stone and iron, from Bockan, Orkney
  
• References:
  • Callander, JG. Notes on certain prehistoric relics from Orkney, and Skara Brae: its culture and its period. Proceedings of the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland, 65 (1930-1), pp 78-114, esp. p101
• Translations:
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