Bracelets

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These six silver bracelets are part of the large Viking Age silver hoard found at Burray in Orkney, deposited around 997 and 1010. They are examples of a distinctive Viking Age bracelet type common in Scotland, called 'ring-money'.

Like all but one piece of 'ring-money' in the hoard, these examples are plain. Some have nicks - small cuts made to check the silver purity. Analyses have shown that the silver was quite base.

Of the 140 items of bullion in the Burray hoard, 26 are complete examples of 'ring-money' and 105 are probably pieces of others. No other types of bracelet were in the hoard, unlike the earlier Viking hoard found at Skaill in Orkney.

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-096-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 241
• Date: 997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  997 - 1010 AD
  Deposited around 997 and 1010
  
• Material: Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Silver; small straight bar
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  Ring, arm
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  Silver arm ring from the Burray hoard, 997 - 1010 AD
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp. 51-2, 57-9, 76, 131. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
• Translations:
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