Pestle Macehead from Orkney

3D Model

ABDUA:16221. University Museums Collection Centre, Marischal College, University of Aberdeen.

This fragmentary late Neolithic (c.3100-2400 BC) ‘Orkney’ pestle macehead was donated to Marischal College Museum, Aberdeen in 1949 by the trustees of the estate of Mr J.C. Henderson. The artefact is labelled ‘Stone Hammer from Orkney’; the precise findspot is not known. This artefact is manufactured from a greyish white and greenish black gneiss; the surface is stained yellowish brown.

Like many Orcadian maceheads, this example is broken through the perforation. Many of these artefacts were deliberately broken during the Neolithic and fragments are commonly found on occupations sites, such as Barnhouse and the Ness of Brodgar, Mainland. Around 100 maceheads are known from Orkney.

Weight: 128g. L: 45.9mm, B: 45.5mm, T: 39.3mm.

Model produced for the Leverhulme Trust funded project ‘Working stone, making communities: technology and identity on prehistoric Orkney’.

Copyright: University of Aberdeen.