Objects from the Burray Hoard go on display at Orkney Museum
More than 70 objects from the Burray Hoard will go on display at Orkney Museum from Saturday [1 November] on loan from National Museums Scotland.
Press images are available here.
Items including complete arm rings and hacksilver fragments will be displayed in the Museum’s recently renovated Groundwater Galleries, which were made possible thanks to a legacy donation from a former Orkney resident.
Orkney’s second-largest Viking-age hoard, the Burray Hoard contains nearly 2 kilograms of silver, mostly in the form of arm-rings, whole and hacked, often referred to as ring-money. The hoard was discovered in 1889 by a local man, Mr George Petrie of Little Wart, during peat cutting. Dating to around 1000 AD (coins suggest it was buried between 997-1010), it contains over 140 items of silver.
Items from the Hoard form part of a loan of nearly 100 objects from National Museums Scotland to Orkney Museum. These include a pair of bronze ‘tortoise’ brooches from a grave of a woman buried at the Broch of Gurness and a gold ring from the Stenness Hoard – Orkney’s only gold hoard.
The loans are part of a National Strategy supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which sees objects from the National Collection displayed in museums across Scotland.
Dr Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History at National Museums Scotland said:
“We’re delighted to be loaning part of the Burray Hoard to Orkney Museum, giving visitors the chance to see these remarkable objects near the place where they were discovered. Silver hoards like this one bring us face to face with moments in the past where people’s lives and wealth were in jeopardy. We’re grateful for the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which allows us to share the National Collection with audiences across the country.”
Dr Siobhan Cooke-Miller, Archaeology Curator at Orkney Museum said:
"We are delighted that part of the Burray Hoard will be displayed in Orkney for the first time in over 35 years. We are very grateful to our benefactor whose generous bequest funded the redevelopment. His express wish was that his legacy donation be used to support Viking heritage and history in Orkney Museums – evidence of the importance of our Viking and Norse past for the people from and living in Orkney today. This exciting loan is a fitting tribute to him.”
This loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland. Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country.
Notes to editors
About National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe and it looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland
Instagram: @NationalMuseumsScotland
Bheireadh Oifis nam Meadhanan eadar-theangachadh Gàidhlig den bhrath-naidheachd seachad do bhuidhinn mheadhanan bharantaichte. Cuiribh fios do dh'Oifis nam Meadhanan airson bruidhinn air cinn-latha freagarrach.
About Orkney Museums
As part of Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Museums care for five visitor attractions within the County. These include; Scapa Flow Museum, St. Magnus Cathedral, Corrigall Farm Museum, Kirbuster Farm Museum and Orkney Museum. The Archaeology Collection has been recognised for its national significance through the Scottish Government’s National Recognition Scheme. In addition to managing its own sites and facilities, the service also provides training, curatorial and financial support to local museums and visitor centres, advocacy and strategic development within the public sector and supports local sector exhibition development as well as offering a full and wide ranging temporary exhibition programme within Orkney Museum.
About People's Postcode Lottery
National Museums Scotland has received over £4 million in funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded through the Postcode Culture Trust.