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Bracelets (fragments)

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from Burray, Orkney

Postcard of Bracelets (fragments).
000-190-004-101-C
© National Museums Scotland

Bracelets (fragments)

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 passed in economic exchanges.

In the Viking world, silver and, to a lesser extent, gold were used as a medium of exchange, weighed on balances. Any type of silver, complete objects or hacksilver, was valid as bullion. Much of the silver was nicked and bent to test its purity.


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Online ID: 000-190-004-101-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 271
Date: 997 - 1010
Deposited around 997 and 1010
Material:
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, 134-5. 
  • 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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