Bracelets (fragments)

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

The fragments all preserve one terminal. 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 when the silver was weighed in economic exchanges.

Of the Scandinavian hoards in Scotland, the Burray hoard is second in weight to the Skaill hoard which dates half a century earlier. It is, however, composed of much more fragmentary silver, most consisting of cut bracelets such as these.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-100-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 271
• Date: 997 - 1010
  Deposited around 997 and 1010
  
• Material: Armlet / fragment
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Armlet / fragment
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Burray
  
• Event:
• Description: Fragments of armlets 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, 133-4. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
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