Die

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This bone die was found at the Broch of Gurness on Orkney. It provides evidence of leisure activities between 100 and 800 AD.

The die is an irregular shape, so it could not have been used like a modern one. Instead, it would have been thrown onto a soft surface where it would embed, giving all four numbers an equal chance.

The broch of Gurness was a village, with perhaps as many as 30 to 40 families living in and around the central dominating tower of the broch. Many objects of everyday life have been recovered from excavations there.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-140-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GAA 192
• Date: 100 - 800 AD
  Between 100 and 800 AD
  
• Material: Bone
  
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Evie and Rendall, Broch of Gurness
  
• Event:
• Description: Bone die from Broch of Gurness, Orkney, 100 - 800 AD
  
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V. Bone dice and the Scottish Iron Age. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 36 (1970), 214-232. 
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