In 1796 a surgeon named Jonathan Troup donated a portion of a massive silver chain to the King’s College Museum in Aberdeen.
The chain, which may actually have been a mixture of silver and bronze, consisted of eleven interlinked rings, alternating as pairs and single links. When it was found it was very corroded and was broken apart in an attempt to discover what it was made from. It is thought to date to the 4th to 6th centuries.
Some time after 1914 the King’s College Museum collection was transferred to the Marischal College Museum.
When Troup donated the chain to the King’s College Museum he wrote a letter stating that it had been found at a depth of 18′ (possibly a mistake for 18″) on the north promontory of Nigg Bay, Girdleness.
Historic Environment Scotland only give the vague coordinates of NJ 9 0 for its original location and state that it was found in the parish of Nigg so for now I have placed the find spot of this Pictish chain at approximately the centre of Girdle Ness.
Where is Nigg?
Nigg is in the parish of Nigg (Kincardineshire) and the county of Kincardineshire.
Grid reference: NJ 96485 05372
Lat / long: 57.139240, -2.059707
Directions to Nigg
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Weather at Nigg
max 1°C / min -1°C
1023mb
92%
24%
08:03 15:45
Few clouds
Weather observed at Torry at 01:07
