Brooch

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This brass oval brooch was found on Tiree in the Inner Hebrides with a pin and perhaps the pair to this brooch, apparently from a woman's grave. The burial dates from between 850 and 950.

Like many oval brooches of the period, this example was made from two shells. This picture shows the back of the plain shell. The lugs for holding the pin are visible.

Viking women, especially those coming from a Norwegian home or background, were buried with a wide array of goods. These often included personal ornaments, especially the distinctive oval brooches, tools and household equipment.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-101-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 219
• Date: 10th century
  Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Oval; bowl-shaped
  
• Dimensions: 4.50" x 2.75" x 1.50"
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Tiree
  
• Event:
• Description: Oval brooch with textile remains on the reverse, from Tiree, 10th century
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 87. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, p 63. 
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