Summary

Bar or ingot of silver with one end tapered like a bracelet, bent into a pointed oval, 986 - 990, found in 1951 with a hoard of 10th century Anglo-Saxon coins at Iona Abbey, Iona, Argyll, Scotland

Accession Number

X.IL 715

Other references

Original description

VIKING PERIOD. Bar of silver 5.25" long, one end tapered like a bracelet, bent into a pointed oval. Found at Iona with hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins. SCRAN CAPTION, 25-04-1997: [One of X.IL 715-7] FINGER RING BEZEL, INGOT AND ROD FOUND AT IONA ABBEY, IONA Ref: X.IL 715-7 INTRODUCTION - These three objects were found with over 360 Anglo-Saxon coins, buried at Iona Abbey on Iona between 986 and 990. They form an unusual and exotic group compared with other Viking Age hoards. DESCRIPTION - The silver and gold bezel from a finger ring is probably Anglo-Saxon in origin, and shows signs of wear. The silver ingot was of purely bullion value, as was the gold rod. However, gold is not common in Scottish Viking Age hoards or settlement finds. BACKGROUND - The Iona Abbey hoard contained over 360 coins, probably the largest number in any Scottish Viking Age hoard, together with these three objects. It may well be a savings hoard, buried for safety during a Viking raid which is known to have occurred in 986. DETAILS - Date: Deposited between 986 and 990 Material: Silver, gold, glass Dimensions: Length of bezel: 29 mm REFERENCES - Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100). Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 1995, pp. 49-50, 147.; Webster, Leslie. The Iona Abbey ring bezel. In: Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100). Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 1995, pp 49-50.

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

Iona Hoard, 1951

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

1951

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Iona Abbey, Iona, Argyll, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1951

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Not recorded

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Not recorded

Image