Scottish Collection : Shetland

The Shetland Islands lie some 100 miles north of Scotland and 400 miles south of the Arctic Circle. There are about 100 islands, only 15 being inhabited. Because of the climate, the land on the Shetlands could not sustain the inhabitants, so then from the earliest times, the islands were important fishing and trading places, fish being traded for corn, textiles, beer etc. By about 2,000 years ago Shetland was populated by people now called the 'Picts' (in the Iron Age period). The islands were later settled by the Vikings, and ruling families were part Norwegian and part Scots. Many families emigrated to the Shetlands from the Scottish mainland in the 16th and 17th centuries. Eventually most of the Shetlanders became feudal tenants under Scottish lairds. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the fishing trade brought people to settle from Germany and the Netherlands.

crusie lamp
This iron crusie lamp from Shetland (AN1983.189) was given by Mr. Adams of North Leigh, Oxfordshire

These stone tools from Hillswick, Shetland, were given by Sir John Evans. Formerly described as 'Picts' Knives'. They date in fact from the Neolithic period.

greenstone Picts knife

Greenstone (porphyrite) knife (AN1927.4047)

Pict's knife

Greenstone (porphyrite) knife (AN1927.4049)

Pict's knife

Greenstone (madreporite) knife (AN1927.4050)

greenstone Picts knife

Greenstone (porphyrite) knife (AN1927.4048)

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