Medieval History
ELB writes:
While in Edinburgh for the purpose of giving a seminar in the Celtic and Scottish Studies department of the University, I found time to see the display of four recently-discovered Iron Age gold torcs at the National Museum of Scotland.
The torcs are on public display for another week or two, after which they will be taken to be valued under the Scottish law of Treasure Trove; following this, they will be allocated to an appropriate museum. The torcs, which were discovered near Stirling by David Booth during his first outing with a metal-detector, are beautiful, and while two of them appear to be of native origin and design, the other two are not. Of those, one, which survives in two fragments, is of French origin, possibly from near Toulouse, and provides evidence either of international trade, or the movement of people or prestige objects, between Continental Europe and the region which is now Scotland, in the period c.300-100 BC. The fourth torc is even more interesting, and, according to the National Museum, is unique.
- Scotland Prepares To Show Off Its Medieval Heritage
As the movie Brave draws in big crowds around the world, Scotland is set to take advantage of this new attention to showcase its medieval heritage. Two important exhibits will be taking place next year at the National Museum of Scotland, while construction...
- Lewis Chessmen Arrive In New York City
In 1831, a hoard of luxury goods?including more than 70 chess pieces and several other objects, all made of carved walrus ivory and dating from the 12th century?was unearthed on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. The chess pieces (thereafter...
- Football Was Being Played In Medieval Scotland, Research Reveals
A Scottish historian has discovered that the game of football was being played as early as the 15th century, and that by the 16th century organized games were taking place just outside castles throughout Scotland. Scottish Football Museum curator Richard...
- Dozens Of Medieval Finds Reported In This Year?s Treasure Trove Of Scotland
The Scottish government has released the latest annual Treasure Trove report, which reveals several dozen new finds from the medieval period. The report, which covers the period 1 April 2010 ? 31 March 2011, details some of the exciting new archaeological...
- Treasure Hunter Finds Ancient Coins
A hoard of medieval silver coins has been found buried in ground at Wellow, it was revealed this week. The 16 silver pennies were found by an amateur treasure- hunter, using a metal detector, and are being examined by experts at the British Museum. ...
Medieval History
Iron Age gold in the National Museum of Scotland
ELB writes:
While in Edinburgh for the purpose of giving a seminar in the Celtic and Scottish Studies department of the University, I found time to see the display of four recently-discovered Iron Age gold torcs at the National Museum of Scotland.
gold torcs, from the National Museum of Scotland website
The torcs are on public display for another week or two, after which they will be taken to be valued under the Scottish law of Treasure Trove; following this, they will be allocated to an appropriate museum. The torcs, which were discovered near Stirling by David Booth during his first outing with a metal-detector, are beautiful, and while two of them appear to be of native origin and design, the other two are not. Of those, one, which survives in two fragments, is of French origin, possibly from near Toulouse, and provides evidence either of international trade, or the movement of people or prestige objects, between Continental Europe and the region which is now Scotland, in the period c.300-100 BC. The fourth torc is even more interesting, and, according to the National Museum, is unique.
detail of torc, from National Museum of Scotland website
The shape of the fourth torc is characteristic of designs found in north-west Europe, but we are told that the craft skills used to make the torc suggest a goldsmith trained in the Graeco-Roman world. The implications for our understanding of international trade, and the exchange of prestige objects, in pre-Roman Britain are yet to be fully understood, but this exciting find, while not as large as the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard, is surely just as significant, albeit for an earlier period. If you're in Edinburgh before 10th February, I highly recommend taking a look at these breathtaking finds.
- Scotland Prepares To Show Off Its Medieval Heritage
As the movie Brave draws in big crowds around the world, Scotland is set to take advantage of this new attention to showcase its medieval heritage. Two important exhibits will be taking place next year at the National Museum of Scotland, while construction...
- Lewis Chessmen Arrive In New York City
In 1831, a hoard of luxury goods?including more than 70 chess pieces and several other objects, all made of carved walrus ivory and dating from the 12th century?was unearthed on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. The chess pieces (thereafter...
- Football Was Being Played In Medieval Scotland, Research Reveals
A Scottish historian has discovered that the game of football was being played as early as the 15th century, and that by the 16th century organized games were taking place just outside castles throughout Scotland. Scottish Football Museum curator Richard...
- Dozens Of Medieval Finds Reported In This Year?s Treasure Trove Of Scotland
The Scottish government has released the latest annual Treasure Trove report, which reveals several dozen new finds from the medieval period. The report, which covers the period 1 April 2010 ? 31 March 2011, details some of the exciting new archaeological...
- Treasure Hunter Finds Ancient Coins
A hoard of medieval silver coins has been found buried in ground at Wellow, it was revealed this week. The 16 silver pennies were found by an amateur treasure- hunter, using a metal detector, and are being examined by experts at the British Museum. ...