Bracelets

These two complete silver bracelets and pieces of four others are part of the large Viking Age silver hoard found at Burray in Orkney, deposited around 997 and 1010. They are examples of a distinctive Viking Age bracelet type common in Scotland, called 'ring-money'.

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. Analyses have shown that the silver was quite base.

'Ring-money' highlights the overlap between ornament and bullion. They could be worn to display wealth, but when needed could be used as payment, cut up if necessary, and weighed on a balance. Some were manufactured to an approximate weight standard.

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