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Pictish chains of silver

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From Whitecleugh, Lanarkshire; Traprain Law, East Lothian; Torvean, Inverness-shire; Haddington, East Lothian; Parkhill, Aberdeenshire; Whitlaw, Lauder, Berwickshire

Pictish chains of silver
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These six heavy silver chains were found at Whitecleugh in Lanarkshire, Traprain Law in East Lothian, Torvean in Inverness-shire, Haddington in East Lothian, Parkhill in Aberdeenshire and at Whitley at Lauder in Berwickshire.

Most of the chains are formed by linking double rings of silver. In a few cases a penannular terminal ring survives, which on the Whitecleugh and Parkhill examples is ornamented with symbols similar to those on Pictish stones, highlighted by red enamel.

Although commonly attributed to the Picts, only three of the ten surviving heavy chains have been found in the Pictish kingdom proper. They were almost certainly badges of high rank - perhaps the equivalent of 'crown jewels' in a land of many kings.

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