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Bracelets

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from Burray, Orkney

Postcard of Bracelets.
000-190-004-097-C
© National Museums Scotland

Bracelets

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 of the 26 complete and 105 pieces of 'ring-money' found 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.

Although the origins of 'ring-money' are to be found in the Irish Sea region, the main area for its use was clearly in the Scandinavian areas of Scotland. They were used as money, weighed on a balance along with other silver objects, coins or hacksilver.


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Online ID: 000-190-004-097-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 250
Date: 997 - 1010
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
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, Orkney, 997 - 1010
References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), 1995, pp. 51-2, 57-9, 76, 132. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
    Find in NLS: Title, Author, Title+Author or British Library: Title, Author, Title+Author
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