Scottish Mysteries. S.C

Eleven heavy silver chains like these have been found in Scotland, and nine survive today. They were made some time between 400 and 800 AD – it isn’t possible to date them any more closely because they were found a long time ago, so our archaeologists don’t have the kind of contextual information they’d have if they’d been discovered more recently. The chains were clearly potent symbols of power in Pictish times, yet we’re still not entirely sure what they were for. They look like neckpieces fit for a king, yet appear to be too small to fit a man. Were they worn by women, or even children? Our archaeologists are still investigating.