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Objects | Archaeology

A selection of Archaeological items from our collection.

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Showing 7 photos.

This small roman coin was found near the gates of Tarbat Old Church, Portmahomack in 1978. There have been suggestions of Roman Camps and a 'Roman Beacon' on the Tarbat Peninsula but these are very unlikely. Roman coins circulated for many years, after the fall of Roman Brittan, for trading and this may account for its presence there.Copper coin, an Antoninianus of Tetricus II, minted between 270 and 273AD, possibly at Trier in Germany. The head is crowned with the sun's rays, probably indicating a coin of a double value. The reverse shows a tall female figure. Tetricus was a usurper who had assumed authority over the Roman provinces of Gaul, Spain and Britain. He was ousted and exiled by Emperor Aurelian in 274, although he returned to provincial government after Aurelian's death.

Roman Copper coin, an Antoninianus of Tetricus II, 270 and 273 AD.

Prehistoric Elk antler dug up at Ardvannie by Edderton and thought to have been used as a tool. It is light grey and brown in colour.Found by Hamish Sutherland.

Prehistoric, Elk Antler

Axehead with signs of wear along the sharp edge. Made of 'quartzite'? Triangular in shape and smooth to the touch. The colour is pink, cream and green. Found in Authurville by David Vass - 9th May 1986.

Polished Stone Axehead

A small bronze annular brooch found by Mr Dillon in 1979 whilst clearing a garden at 5 Ross Street, Inver. Mr Dillon sent the brooch to the National Museum in Edinburgh who identified it as being from the 17th or 18th century. As the annular brooch fell from fashion in the rest of Europe, they remained in use in the highlands. Gradually becoming larger, more ornate and decorated with distinctive regional imagery.The front of this brooch is decorated with an engraved and repeating pattern of triangular shapes interspersed with panels of closely engraved lines. This style of decoration can be paralleled on other brooches of this type found in east coast burghs such as Fortrose and Dornoch.

Annular Brooch from Inver, 17th or 18th century.

This small figure of 'Christ on the Cross' was found by a metal detectorist in Tain, and it is a rare relic of a time when the town was an important place of pilgrimage. Based on known examples in the British Museum, the figure is of 15-16th century date and is most likely from a processional cross of devotional art. The cross and figure separate and are joined by rivets - only one now remains. The figure has been cast in one piece from a copper alloy and the relevant detailing of the face, musculature and loincloth added afterwards by engraving.

Part of Medieval Processional Cross, 15-16th century.

A fragment of a Bartmann Jug also called Bellarmine jug, which is a type of decorated salt-glazed stoneware that was manufactured in Europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The signature decorative detail was a bearded face mask appearing on the lower neck of the vessel. There is also a horseshoe shape marked with dots, both impressed into the clay.This fragment was found on the Links at Tain, in 1996. When the Links were being dug up between the pond and the playpark to install new sewage pipes. This is evidence of trade between Easter Ross and the Continent in the Early Modern period.

Bartmann Jug, c 17th century.

The Ardjachie Stone which was found by farmers in 1960 at the Ardjachie Point near Tain in Easter Ross is an uncut decorated boulder made of local sandstone. It was decided to move it to Tain museum where it now stands. There are two symbols on it; an inverted-L design with a wheel or sun image above, both of probable Pictish origin. It therefore may be considered a Class I Pictish stone. There are also several dozen cup or ring marks suggesting that the stone dates originally back to the Bronze Age.The stone can be seen in the churchyard of the Collegiate Church. It is situated on the left-hand side of the front door of the museum, The main gates of the churchyard will be open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 3 pm.

Ardjachie Class I Pictish Stone