Record

Necklace

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from near Pitkennedy, Aberlemno, Angus

Postcard of Necklace.
000-100-035-893-C
© National Museums Scotland

Necklace

This necklace made of cannel coal was found with a pot in a cist burial near Pitkennedy, near Aberlemno in Angus. It was a prestigious and valuable object, probably belonging to a woman, although no bones survived in the cist. The burial dates from between 2300 and 1800 BC.

The necklace consisted of a triangular fastener, two triangular end plates, four trapeze-shaped spacer places and (when found) around 104 barrel-shaped beads. The end and spacer plates had been decorated with a dot design. All plates and beads had been highly polished.

Cannel coal and other black substances in Scotland were used as substitutes for the highly-prized jet from Whitby in Yorkshire. Objects made of jet and these other materials were high status possessions. This necklace had probably not been very old when it was buried.


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Online ID: 000-100-035-893-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EQ 384
Date: Between 2300 and 1800 BC
Material: Jet
Dimensions:
What:
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Who:
Where: Scotland, Angus, Aberlemno, Pitkennedy
Event:
Description: Jet necklace from a Bronze Age burial near Pitkennedy, Aberlemno, Angus
References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, pp 206, 208, 212, 290. 
  • Jervise, A. 1860. Notice of a stone coffin which contained an urn and jet ornaments, discovered near Pitkennedy, parish of Aberlemno, Forfarshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 3 (1857-60), pp 78-9. 
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