Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Norrie's Law

Cairn (Period Unassigned), Hoard (Silver)(Pictish)

Site Name Norrie's Law

Classification Cairn (Period Unassigned), Hoard (Silver)(Pictish)

Alternative Name(s) Teasses; Norrieslaw Cottage

Canmore ID 32527

Site Number NO40NW 3

NGR NO 4095 0733

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/32527

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Fife
  • Parish Largo
  • Former Region Fife
  • Former District North East Fife
  • Former County Fife

Archaeology Notes

NO40NW 3 4095 0733.

(NO 4095 0733) Norries Law (Tumulus) (NR) Silver Ornaments found (AD 1819-22)

OS 6" map (1920)

The tumulus on Norrie's Law stands on the summit of a ridge. It has been severely mutilated, but from the descriptions given it appears to have been a mound 53 feet in diameter surrounded by a circular trench, 16 feet wide inside of which was a rough wall of boulders, and inside that again a second and concentric walling of stones, the space between these being filled with earth. Within the second wall, the body of the mound proved to be a cairn of stones.

Several stone cists, yielding burnt bones and a small urn, were found in the tumulus, and in 1819-22 a hoard of silver ornaments and pieces of thin silver plate, were found in, or near, a cist at the base of the Law.

In 1925 the tumulus rose to a height of approximately 12 feet from the surrounding level of the much destroyed trench on the north and north-west, and was spread to a diameter of 60 feet.

RCAHMS 1933; J Anderson nnnn; D Wilson

The silver hoard is probably 7th to 8th century AD. The items were apparently found in a sandpit at the foot of Norrie's Law, at different times.

J Stuart 1856

The silver ornaments and fragments of silver plate are in the NMAS (Acc. Nos: FC 30, 33 and 34).

J R Allen and J Anderson 1903

Norrie's Law is generally as described by RCAHMS. The maximum height of the mound is 4.3m on the NW side. The surrounding trench has been ploughed out.

Visited by OS (RDL) 18 October 1962

The dog's head symbol on the pair of silver plaques from the hoard is typologically very close to the Lindisfarne dogs. A date about AD 700 or later is therefore suggested, on the supposition that the Lindisfarne artist was the originator, but the perhaps less likely alternative that the Lindisfarne animals are due to Pictish influence would affect the dating little. Other silver articles in the hoard might be of earlier dates.

F T Wainwright 1955.

Silver repousse dish in 'boss style'.

L Laing and J Laing 1986.

Activities

Field Visit (18 August 1925)

Tumulus, Norrie's Law.

The tumulus on Norrie’s Law stands on the summit of a ridge about 500 yards north-west of the farm of Bonnyton, at an elevation of 600 feet above sea-level, a situation that commands an extensive view. The original construction has been much destroyed by the excavations which have taken place at different periods, but from the descriptions given it appears to have been a mound, 53 feet in diameter, surrounded by a circular trench, 16 feet wide, inside of which was a rude wall of boulder stones, and inside that again a second and concentric walling of stones, the space between these being filled with earth. Within the second wall the body of the mound proved to be a cairn of stones. Several stone cists, from which burnt bones and a small urn were recovered, were found in the tumulus when it was opened up, but its main interest lies in a remarkable series of discoveries made in 1819-22. These included silver ornaments and mutilated pieces of thin silver plate. The relics have attracted a considerable amount of attention and have been frequently illustrated and described (Figs. 30-32) .See Stuart's Sculptured Stones of Scotland, vol. ii, App. to Preface, p. 83; Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot., vi (1864-6), p. 7, and xviii (1883-4), p. 240; Allen's Early Christian Monts., pp. 368-9; Anderson's Scotland in Early Christian Times, 2nd series, p. 38; Wilson's Prehistoric Annals, vol. ii, p. 250.

In its present condition, the tumulus rises to a height of approximately 12 feet from the surrounding level of the much destroyed trench on the north and north-west, and is spread to a diameter of 60 feet. On the north-east a small segment of the walling remains, but the construction is apparently much broken.

RCAHMS 1933, visited 18 August 1925.

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions