Record

Piece of whalebone, possibly used in the base of a leather bucket

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From Broch of Burray, Orkney

Postcard of Piece of whalebone, possibly used in the base of a leather bucket.
000-100-038-399-C
© National Museums Scotland

Piece of whalebone, possibly used in the base of a leather bucket

This piece of whalebone, possibly a spoked stiffener for the base of a skin or leather bucket, was found at the Broch of Burray in Orkney. It was used sometime between 200 BC and 400 AD.

The stiffener was cut into the shape of a wheel from a portion of a whale vertebra (a segment of the spinal column).

People collected bone from stranded carcasses of whales, porpoises and dolphins. In the largely treeless north and west, whalebone was used as a substitute for wood. It was strong, dense and resilient, and came in very large sizes.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-100-038-399-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GC 36
Date: Between 200 BC and 400 AD
Material: Bone, vertebra, whale; cut into the shape of a wheel
Dimensions:
What: Whalebone / portion
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Orkney, Burray
Event:
Description: Portion of whale vertebra cut into the shape of a wheel, from Burray
References:
Translations:
Related Records:
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