Summary

Decorated slab slate/motif piece from excavations at Dunadd, Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll

Accession Number

X.1996.293.480

Other references

Original description

Assemblage from Dunadd. ORF: IDENTIFICATION - Other numbers: CO TT 65/95. Department Section: Early/Later Prehistory; National Audit Category: Archaeology. Object Name: Finds assemblage from excavations at Dunadd, Argyll in 1980-81. Description: Finds assemblage from excavations at Dunadd, Argyll in 1980-81. Details to follow. Note that a selection of items from these sites were allocated temporary X.1997 numbers for purposes of MOS. For archive catalogues etc see separate folder. FIELD COLLECTION - Place: Dunadd, Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll. Grid Reference: NR 8365 9356. Site Type: Fort. Circumstances of Discovery / Notes: NMRS no: NR89SW 1.00. Registered / Completed By: [name redacted]. Date: 1996. [name redacted] notes 3.4.2009: X.1996.293.480 = Decorated slab slate/motif piece. Trapezoidal plaque of indurated shale. The plaque was originally shaped as a trapezoid with straight edges, which were then smoothed. There is a sub-circular hole at the narrow end which is irregular in outline and was not drilled, D. c.10 mm. In its initial period of use the plaque was suspended from this hole by a cord which has worn the upper part of the hole. While free to swing on this cord at least three of the corners were damaged and split. These old damaged surfaces have then been worn smooth by continued rubbing, perhaps on cloth. Subsequently, the plaque was reused as a motif-piece but most of the back face of the object was split off before this reuse. The decoration on the front face has both animals and interlaced knotwork. At the top right is the head and upper body of a raptor. Below this there is a hind and a stag, both complete and shown in motion. On the lower half of the plaque are two differing versions of a complex interlaced knot. Surrounding these are four smaller attempts at portions of the same knotwork. One of these crosses the rear foot of the stag and appears to post-date it. On the back face, which is not smoothed, is a poor attempt at another bird, possibly the same raptor as on the front face. An attempt has been made to erase the head. The incised lines are narrow (about 0.3 mm wide) and shallow, and have a flat-bottomed profile. The piece was shattered during excavation. The indurated shale is of Lower Palaeozoic origin. Size 193 x 109 mm., T. 8 mm. Site 1(6) SF3.

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

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

1980

Method (e.g. excavation)

Excavated

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Dunadd, Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1996

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Donor

Image

None