Bracelets

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These two complete silver bracelets and pieces of four others 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.

'Ring-money' highlights the overlap between ornament and bullion. They could be worn to display wealth, but when needed could be used as payment, cut up if necessary, and weighed on a balance. Some were manufactured to an approximate weight standard.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-099-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 265
• 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, 132. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
• Translations:
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