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Maceheads

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From Bookan, Orkney

Postcard of Maceheads.
000-100-033-069-C
© National Museums Scotland

Maceheads

A mace was a ceremonial weapon. These five stone maceheads, all deliberately broken, were found at Bookan on Orkney, near the stone circle and ritual complexes of Stenness and Brodgar. They were buried between 2900 and 1700 BC.

All the maceheads have been broken at the perforations through which wooden handles were inserted.

Maceheads could have been used as weapons, but their chief role was as symbols of power. They took time and skill to make. They were sometimes deliberately sacrificed to the gods, as these examples surely are.


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Online ID: 000-100-033-069-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.AH 184
Date: Between 2900 and 1700 BC
Material: Flint, red and grey, polished
Quartzite, whitish
Stone; broken through perforation
Stone; flat; oval section
Stone; polished; broken across perforation
Dimensions: 1.38" L
1.63" x 1.31" D
What: Mace head / portion
Mace head / portion
Mace head / portion
Mace head / portion
Mace head / portion
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
Scotland, Orkney, Stenness, Brodgar
Event:
Description: Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
Deliberately broken mace head from near the Stenness - Brodgar ritual complex, Orkney
References:
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