Golden hair ornament

This gold object, probably a hair ornament used on pleated hair, was found at Orbliston Junction in Moray. It was made sometime between 2300 and 2000 BC, possibly in Ireland.

The ornament consists of an elongated oval sheet of beaten gold folded into a semi-tubular shape with a tang for attachment. It is decorated on the inside edges with punched dots within two parallel lines.

Objects such as these were once viewed as earrings, but have now been interpreted as hair ornaments, worn by important men or women. Only the wealthy and high status people had access to gold in Bronze Age Britain.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-035-716-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.EQ 117
Date:	Between 2300 and 2000 BC C. 2000 BC
Material:	Gold
Dimensions:
What:	Ornament, hair
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Moray, Fochabers, Orbliston
Event:
Description:	Hair ornament of gold found at Orbliston, Moray
References:	Clarke, D.V., Cowie, T.G., & Foxon, Andrew (eds). Symbols of power at the time of Stonehenge. Edinburgh: National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland, 1985, pp 187-8, 269.
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