This set of scales and weights probably belonged to a Viking trader. It is likely they were used to weigh out silver, which formed the basis of the Viking economy. The silver could be exchanged for a range of commodities traded by the Vikings as they travelled around Europe and beyond. The objects provide a good opportunity for exploring important aspects of Viking trade.
From
Kiloran Bay on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides
Date
buried AD 875 – 925
Culture
Viking
Material
bronze scales with lead and bronze weights
Dimensions
scale pans
diameter: : 9.5 – 10 cm
depth: 2 cm
balance beam
length: 19.6 cm
height: 6.3 cm
Museum
National Museum of Scotland
(Please always check with the museum that the object is on display before travelling)