Shetland Museum and Archives to host conference: St Ninian’s Isle Treasure - 50 years on

The Shetland Museum and Archives is holding a conference to launch three months of activities and celebrations marking the return of the famous St Ninian’s Isle Treasure. Entitled ‘St Ninian’s Isle Treasure – 50 years on’, the two day conference will start on the evening of the 4th July, exactly 50 years from the day of its discovery in 1958.

The treasure was found by a Shetland schoolboy volunteer during an excavation on St Ninian’s Isle by Aberdeen University. Consisting of nearly thirty items, it is one of the most important silver hoards found in the UK. Experts think it was probably buried around AD 800, at a time when its Shetland owners feared raids by Vikings.

Since its discovery it has been housed in the National Museums Scotland, returning only once in 1967 for a short display. Now, as part of a partnership agreement between Shetland Amenity Trust and National Museums Scotland, the treasure will be displayed in the Museum and Archives from 4th July to 5th October.

The conference takes place during the opening weekend, giving delegates the opportunity to be among the first to see the treasure on display in the Museum and Archives. During the conference, expert speakers will discuss the treasure as a museum object; the nature of the silver hoard and its artistic background; the sculptured stones on the island and elsewhere in Shetland; the archaeology of St Ninian’s Isle; the historical background in Scotland and Shetland; and the language spoken in Shetland and Scotland around 800.

There will be an excursion to St Ninian’s Isle and other historic sites in the South Mainland of Shetland on 6 July, and a specially-commissioned play by Shetland Arts on the theme of the treasure.

A booking form for the conference is available from the Shetland Museum and Archives, tel. (01595) 695057 or e-mail info#OBFAT#shetlandmuseumandarchives#OBFDOT#org#OBFDOT#uk  Places are limited, so early booking is essential. For further information on the conference please contact Brian Smith on 01595 695057.

Preparations are also underway for a further series of special events and activities based around the treasure while it is in Shetland; details of these will be released later.