Whitecleuch Chain, Pictish silver chain in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The Whitecleuch Chain is a silver necklace from South Lanarkshire, Scotland, made up of 22 large round links connected to a broad open ring. The piece measures approximately 50 centimeters in length and weighs around 1.8 kilograms.
The silver piece dates from between 400 and 800 AD and belongs to a small group of around ten known examples of Pictish ceremonial neckwear. Its discovery in 1869 at Rough Flow Moss revealed important evidence about early medieval metalwork and craftsmanship.
The chain displays traditional Pictish symbols engraved on its surface, including zigzag patterns and double disc designs seen on standing stones. These carved decorations reflect the artistic skills and spiritual beliefs of early Pictish communities.
You can view this object at your own pace in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, where it is permanently on display for visitors. The museum setting allows you to examine the finely crafted piece from different angles.
Its discovery in southwest Scotland, far from traditional Pictish territories, hints at networks of trade and population movement across the region. This suggests valuable objects could travel over considerable distances in this period.
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