Pendant and pendant fastener

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These pumice pendants were found in burials at Taversoe Tuick on Rousay in Orkney and at Unival on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Both were found in communal tombs along with human remains, ceramic vessel fragments and other grave goods.

The pendant on the left was ground to a trapezoidal shape, and then pierced in its narrower end, now broken. The pendant fastener on the right was ground to a rectangular shape with rounded corners, and worn with 35 disc beads of shale.

Pieces of pumice are often found on Scottish coastal sites, perhaps drifting from Iceland. They were used for a variety of purposes, including jewellery (as these examples), as fishing floats and as abrasives in activities such as cleaning hides.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-060-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.EO 870
• Date: Date of pendant on left: 3400-2900 BC; pendant fastener on right: 2400
  
• Material: Pumice
  Pumice; squared sides; long edges diverging from perforation which is partly broken away
  Fastener
  Pendant
  
• Dimensions: 1.19" L x 0.81" W x 0.44" thick
  1.5" x 0.7" x 0.4" (in centre)
  
• What: Fastener
  Pendant
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, North Uist, Unival
  Scotland, Orkney, Rousay, Taverso Tuick
  
• Event:
• Description: Pumice fastener from Taverso Tuick, Rousay, Orkney
  Pendant
  
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, pp 58, 63, 237. 
• Translations:
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