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 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: 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, 134-5. 
  • Ritchie, Anna. Viking Scotland London: B.T. Batsford Ltd/Historic Scotland, 1993, pp. 74-5.
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