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Image © National Museums Scotland
View full screenDecorated slab slate/motif piece from excavations at Dunadd, Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll
X.1996.293.480
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.
Dunadd, Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll, Scotland, Northern Europe