Basket-Shaped Ornaments

Ornaments, whose function is unknown but are considered to have been ear-rings or hair ornaments, made of a flat oval plate curved longitudinally with a hook projecting from the centre of one side. They are decorated with rows of lightly punched dots (pointillé) between embossed lines.

Dating and areas of discovery

Date: circa 2500 BC - 2000 BC
Distribution: England, Scotland

Examples

Gold ornament IOW-B16625

Gold ornament BM 1940,0404.1

References

• O'Connor B. 2004. The earliest Scottish metalwork since Coles. Scotland in ancient Europe: the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Scotland in their European context. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 205-216.
• Needham in press