Jet and Related Materials in Viking Scotland

Abstract

Viking jewellery of polished black stone is too readily labelled as jet, implying E-coast contacts to North Yorkshire. Analysis of Scottish material (predominantly bangles) shows that here jet was rarely used. Instead a range of more readily available materials, primarily lignite and cannel coal, was favoured. These suggest contacts to Sutherland and down the western seaways to the Firth of Clyde and perhaps Ireland. The ornamental habit itself was not a Viking one in origin, and they probably acquired it from contacts with indigenous groups in the source areas.