| Administrative History | The St Ninian's Isle Treasure was found on 4th July 1958 during an archaeological excavation on St Ninian's Isle, Shetland, led by Andrew C. O'Dell, Professor of Geography at the University of Aberdeen. O'Dell had begun excavating on the island in 1955 and returned there annually with students from the Geography Department, revealing medieval church foundations overlying a pre-Norse church.
The hoard of Celtic monastic silver was found by a Shetland schoolboy, buried in a box of larch, with the objects tumbled together in a manner that suggested a hurried burial. It comprised 28 items, all intricately decorated, including silver bowls and twelve penanular brooches. The provenance of the hoard has puzzled archaeologists and historians, for it must post-date the larch tree's introduction to Britain in the eighteenth century.
The treasure was taken to the University of Aberdeen, where it was displayed for a short time in the University's Anthropological Museum. Thereafter, it was transferred to its permanent home in the National Museum of Scotland. Several duplicates of the hoard were made with the intention that one set be retained for display in the University and another be displayed on Shetland. The University's set is now in Marischal Museum. |
| Description | 'St Ninian's Isle Treasure. A silver hoard discovered on St Ninian's Isle, Zetland on 4th July 1958' (Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd, 1960). Notes by Andrew O'Dell, photographs by Alexander Cain.
Signed copy of publication, presented by Alexander Cain, 11 October 1960. The book is illustrated with enlarged black and white photographs of the finds (taken before and after conservation) and line drawings by Eva Wilson. It is believed that the line drawings were made whilst the treasure was in the University's Anthropological Museum. |