Bead

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This amber bead was found at Lamba Ness on Sanday in Orkney together with a lignite bangle, pair of brass oval brooches, a bronze ringed pin and burnt bones. The objects are typical of those placed in Scandinavian women's graves.

Amber bead from the south end of Sanday, Orkney

Amber was a valuable material, used for expensive jewellery by both Pictish and Scandinavian craftsmen. Most amber was probably imported from the Baltic region. Amber beads appear in Viking graves of both men and women.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-716-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Kiloran Bay Viking Burial (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 350
• Date: Between 800 and 950
  
• Material: Amber
  
• Dimensions: 28 mm D
  
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• Subject:
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• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sanday
  
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• Description:
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, pp 56-7. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, pp. 86-8. 
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