What is the St Ninian's Isle treasure?
This fascinating hoard of treasure was discovered during
excavations on St Ninian’s Isle, Shetland, in 1958. It consists of
28 silver and silver-gilt objects, all decorated, made during the
second half of the eighth century. Most of the objects are
considered to be Pictish, which means they would have been made and
used in the eastern and northern areas of Scotland.
When was the treasure discovered?
The treasure was discovered on 4 July 1958 by a schoolboy called
Douglas Coutts, who was taking part in excavations of the medieval
church that had once existed on the island. Coutts found the
treasure in a wooden box, buried under a slab marked with a cross.
It is generally assumed that the treasure was hidden beneath the
floor of an earlier chapel.
Who owned the treasure?
The treasure may have belonged to a local religious community,
or it may be the valued items of an aristocratic family. The pieces
are not all of the same date, and the collection may have been put
together over several generations. Without access to safe deposit
boxes, burying your valued items in the ground at times of stress
was probably the best option.
What does the treasure consist of?
The contents of the treasure fall into three groups: items
connected with feasting, weapons and jewellery. All three groups
are integral to expressions of aristocratic wealth in early
historic Scotland.
Feasting
There are seven feasting bowls and a more elaborate hanging
bowl, along with a spoon decorated with a dog’s head and a curved
prong that was perhaps used for eating shellfish.
Weapons
It seems likely that the decorative elements discovered in the
hoard were removed from weapons before burial. They may all be from
swords. Representations on Pictish stones show that swords were a
clear symbol of rank.
Jewellery
There are also twelve brooches in the treasure. In early
historic Scotland, brooches such as these did much more than act as
cloak fasteners. The size and quality of the decoration signified
the wearer’s status and position in society. The number and quality
of the brooches found strengthens the suggestion that the treasure
came from an aristocratic household.
When was the treasure buried?
The treasure may have been buried at the end of the 8th or
beginning of the 9th century AD, when Viking raids on Scotland
first began. Alternatively, as the objects show signs of
significant use, they may have been hidden centuries later.