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1 July 2008
 SHETLAND’S
famous St Ninian’s Isle treasure will return home on Friday for the
first time in 41 years on a three month loan.
The National Museum of Scotland has agreed to let Shetland Museum
display the prized treasure until 5 October following a campaign to
get it housed on the isles permanently.
Friday will mark 50 years since the treasure was discovered by
Shetland schoolboy volunteer Douglas Coutts during an excavation of
a medieval church by Aberdeen University in 1958.
Since the discovery of the 28 Pictish silver artefacts they have
been housed in the National Museum in Edinburgh, only returning home
once in 1967 for a short time.
The treasure is one of the most important finds in Scottish
archaeological history and experts think it was probably buried
around 800 AD when Shetlanders feared raids by Vikings. |
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Shetland
Amenity Trust general manager Jimmy Moncrieff said: “The St Ninian’s
Isle treasure is one of the most significant Pictish art treasures
ever discovered and has always held a special place in Shetland’s
heart.
“To have it back as the centrepiece of our celebrations to mark the
fiftieth anniversary of its discovery is fantastic.”
During the three month loan Shetland Museum and Archives will put on
a series of celebratory events to exam different aspects of the
treasure.
Activities include a two day conference, daily tours putting the
treasure into context, and a range of children’s workshops.
A new range of products inspired by the treasure has also been
developed for the museum shop, including a newly updated St Ninian’s
Isle treasure guidebook. |
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