NMS Archaeology Object 172223: X.FC 303 - Pin


Description

Summary


Zoomorphic bone pin from Kerrera, Argyll, Pictish, 700 - 900 AD


Accession Number


X.FC 303


Other references


1977.301
F Ack 1977/93A

Original description

Pin / animal-headed / hipped shank. Bone. Finely carved animal head set at right angles to shank; three fine incised lines encircle the shank at the 'hip'; "The hipped shank ... and the position of the zoomorphic head at right-angles to the shank, seem to be native features of 7th - 9th century date, while the proportions of the pin and the vigour of the carving indicated 9th century Norse influence" (RCAHMS Argyll vol 2 Lorn, 22). From 'a small earth-house' in the talus on Kerrera, Argyll: situated at northern end of island NM c 844 311 - however site not located by RCAHMS. Lethbridge, T C, Herdsmen and Hermits, 1950, 94 - 95; RCAHMS Argyll vol 2 Lorn, 22, pl 5D, Edinburgh 1975. SD note, July 1999: Edited from SCRAN full data set. Trevor Cowie notes, 17 June 2010: in fact, there can be little doubt that the site in question is Cladh A'Bhearnaig, Ardantrive (RCAHMS no NM83SW 6) at NGR NM 8449 3115). According to the RCAHMS database, 'When digging a section into the midden beneath a great overhang at the N end of Kerrera not far from the cashel (NM83SW 2), Lethbridge found an 'underground hut'. It was extremely ill-defined and had been roofed with wood and turf, level with the top of the midden. In it he found a bone pin ....and other objects (illustrated in Lethbridge 1950). The occupation layer of the midden gave limpet-hammers, fragments of Neolithic - Early Bronze Age pottery, a broken leaf-shaped arrowhead, and a flint scraper. The site was not located during RCAHMS Inventory fieldwork, and it was considered that the whole structure must have been destroyed during the war when ammunition dumps were made (Information contained in letters from T C Lethbridge to J N G Ritchie, RCAHMS, 25 February 1970, 25 November 1970 and from Ritchie to Lethbridge, 23 November 1970). Other finds from this site (including a knife of Arran pitchstone and medieval pottery sherds) were donated to Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by T C Lethbridge (51.1054 to 1057). (Undated information in Museum Accessions Register, Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology).

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)

Kerrera, Argyll, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1977

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Not recorded

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Donor

Image

Image of Zoomorphic bone pin from Kerrera, Argyll, Pictish, 700 - 900 AD © National Museums Scotland
Image of Zoomorphic bone pin from Kerrera, Argyll, Pictish, 700 - 900 AD © National Museums Scotland

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