Summary

Remains of bog-butter, found in a trough at Balnakeil Farm, Durness, Sutherland, between c. 960 and 1260

Accession Number

X.SHC 10

Other references

Original description

Rectangular wooden trough (SHC 9) with flat handles at either end, containg bog butter (SHC 10), found in 1969 when cutting peats near Durness, sutherland c. NC 387638. Trough cut from one solid piece of wood, 29" long x 11" max. width x 4.5" high, sides slightly bowed, flat handles 3" long. Restored from fragments in the museum laboratory, 1973. Also remains of "bog-butter" contained in trough, shrunken, irreguar and pitted lump, 13."" x 7.5" max. [MoS Description] Fat of the land. (B3) Dairy products. (You could store butter by burying it in a keg. Although it turned rancid after several weeks, it was still edible. In Viking times, handing over butter was one way of paying tax). (2) Trough with butter, Durness. 960 - 1260 AD.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1969

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Not recorded

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Vendor

Image