From Jarlshof, Shetland; Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay; Harbour Broch, Keiss, Caithness; Keil Cave, Argyll; Tain, Ross-shire

Weaving tablets of bone

These bone weaving tablets were used to produce decorative braids. They were found at Jarlshof in Shetland, at the Broch of Burrian on North Ronaldsay in Orkney, at Harbour Broch at Keiss in Caithness, at Keil Cave in Argyll and at Tain in Ross-shire.

The weaving tablets pictured here are circular, rectangular or triangular in shape. Most have perforations in different patterns. The tablet on the bottom left is an unused rough-out.

Weaving tablets were used to produce decorative braids and bands, perhaps to attach to clothing as borders. The threads or yarn were fed through the holes and then plaited to produce bands.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-037-881-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.HSA 4156
Date:	Between 200 BC and 200 AD
Material:	Bone; circular; two hour-glass perforations; central ring and dot ornament; broken Bone; circular; with four holes Bone; circular; with two holes Bone; square; two pairs of small irregular perforations; near the centre an incised square with a dot in each corner Bone; thin; corners perforated Bone; triangular Bone; triangular; perforation near each corner; one corner broken
Dimensions:	1.25" D 1.25" D 1.35" x 1.30" 1.38" x 1.38" 1.40" D 1.75" L 1.75" x 2.00"
What:	Weaving tablet Weaving tablet Weaving tablet Weaving tablet Weaving tablet Weaving tablet Weaving tablet / blank
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Argyll, Southend, Keil Cave Scotland, Caithness, Keiss Harbour Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Tain Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof (Broch) Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof (Broch)
Event:
Description:	Circular bone weaving tablet with four holes, from Jarlshof Circular bone weaving tablet with two holes, from Jarlshof Circular weaving tablet of bone with two hour-glass perforations and central ring-and-dot ornamentation, from Burrian Triangular bone blank for a weaving tablet, from Harbour Broch, Keiss Triangular bone weaving tablet with a perforation near each corner, from Keil Cave, Argyll Square bone weaving tablet with perforated corners, from Tain Square bone weaving tablet with two pairs of small irregular perforations, from Jarlshof
References:	MacGregor, Arthur. The Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 105 (1972-4), pp 63-118, esp. pp 79-80, 110.
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