Discs and bones

These stone discs and ox bones were found at Scatness and Jarlshof in Shetland, and at the Broch of Burrian in Orkney. They are all decorated, some with Pictish symbols. Their functions are unknown, but at least some may have been playing pieces for games.

The disc on the middle right and bone at the bottom left were decorated with Pictish symbols. The other discs were decorated with geometric patterns. The bone on the bottom right appears to be graffiti or a trial design.

The function and dating of decorated objects such as these can be difficult to determine. Those with Pictish designs date from between 500 and 800, and the other objects may well also.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-080-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GA 425
• Date: Between 500 and 800
  
• Material: Bone, ox; incised on one side with a crescent and V rod and on the other with a circular disc and rectangle with square indentations
  Bone, ox; incised with a symbol, partly obliterated
  Circular; incised with Celtic divergent spiral pattern
  Claystone; ornamented with rectangles; crossed by oblique lines
  Claystone; with circular fret-like pattern
  Sandstone; thick; on one face incised Pictish symbol of 'spectacles' crossed by rod
  Disc
  Disc / cast
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  Roundel / playing piece
  Roundel / playing piece
  
• Dimensions: 2.20" L
  2.30" D
  2.30" L
  2.75" D, 0.56" thick
  3.00" D
  3.00" D
  
• What: Disc
  Disc / cast
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  Phalanx, ox / playing piece
  Roundel / playing piece
  Roundel / playing piece
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian
  Scotland, Orkney, North Ronaldsay, Burrian
  Scotland, Shetland, Dunrossness, Scatness
  Scotland, Shetland, Dunrossness, Scatness
  Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof
  Scotland, Shetland, Sumburgh, Jarlshof (Broch)
  
• Event:
• Description: Roundel of claystone with circular fret-like pattern, possibly a playing piece, from Scatness
  Roundel of claystone ornamented with rectangles and crossed by oblique lines, possibly a playing piece, from Scatness
  Ox phalanx with incised Pictish symbols, possibly a playing piece or king piece, from Burrian
  Ox phalanx with incised Pictish symbols, possibly a playing piece or king piece, from Burrian
  Thick sandstone disc with an incised Pictish symbol of 'spectacles' crossed by a rod on one face, from Jarlshof
  Cast of a disc of sandstone, from Jarlshof, Shetland, the original of which possibly dates from 750 - 850
  
• References:
  • MacGregor, Arthur. The Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 105 (1972-4), pp 63-118, esp. pp 88, 95-6, 111, 113. 
• Translations:
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