Hunterston
Findspot (19th Century), Brooch (7th Century)
Site Name Hunterston
Classification Findspot (19th Century), Brooch (7th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 'The Hunterson Brooch'; Hawking Craigs
Canmore ID 40669
Site Number NS15SE 5
NGR NS 178 505
NGR Description NS c. 178 505
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40669
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish West Kilbride
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Ayrshire
NS15SE 5 c. 178 505
The Hunterson Brooch was found at approximately NS 178 505, probably in the autumn of 1830, on the surface of the ground by two men quarrying stones. It would seem that it had rolled a short distance perhaps out of a cleft, from the perpendicular rocks. The Hawking Craigs were just above the findspot.
The brooch, now in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) Accession Number: FC 8) is a fairly massive casting of silver, mounted with gold, silver and amber insets; it is datable to the later 7th century. It bears secondary 10th century runic inscriptions reading 'Melbrigda owns this (brooch)' and 'This brooch belongs to Olfriti'.
NMAS 1892; S Greig 1940; R B K Stevenson 1974.
