From a Roman distance slab to a medieval football, Antarctic goggles to a dancing fiddle- VisitScotland has today revealed the top 25 objects that have shaped Scotland's history in a stunning new e-book.
The list has been unveiled on International Chess Day (20 July) as a special nod to the most famous chess pieces in history – the Lewis Chessmen - who feature at number 9 on the date ordered list.
Compiled by an expert panel for the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, the 25 objects cover over 5000 years of Scottish history and the length and breadth of the country from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway.
The objects were chosen based on chronological and geographic spread alongside their individual interesting stories. The final 25 were chosen by a panel that included representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, National Museums of Scotland, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and VisitScotland.
VisitScotland hopes that visitors will go on a trail this summer to discover as many of the objects as possible and in turn discover more about Scotland's fascinating past.
The oldest object in the list is a barbed harpoon point (originally found in the Macarthur Cave, Oban) that dates back to the Middle Stone Age, and is one of the earliest instruments used to hunt and fish in Scotland.
The most modern in the list is Dolly the Sheep - the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell – who is currently housed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and celebrated her 20th anniversary in 2016.
More unusual objects on the list include the Orkney Venus – the earliest known depiction of the female human form - which dates from the Neolithic period and was uncovered at the Links of Noltland on the Orkney island of Westray in 2009.
A violin which ignited Robert Burns' rebellious streak, revealing more about the great Bard's personality is another object that makes the final cut. The Gregg Violin was owned by Burns' dance teacher, William Gregg. In around 1779, Robert Burns started taking dancing lessons and wrote that he hoped these new skills would 'give my manners a brush', but it was most likely an act of rebellion because his father did not approve of such seemingly sinful behaviour.
Full list of Scotland's History in 25 Objects
- Barbed Harpoon Point
- The Orkney Venus
- Poltalloch Jet Necklace
- The Carpow Logboat
- Mousa Broch
- Roman Distance Slab
- Carved Footprint
- St. Martin's Cross
- The Lewis Chessmen
- Stone Effigy at Sweetheart Abbey
- Robert the Bruce Equestrian Statue
- Honours of Scotland
- Oldest Football
- Castle of Mey Tapestry
- Penicuik Jewels
- Bonnie Prince Charlie's Travelling Canteen
- The Gregg Violin
- Sir Walter Scott's Desk
- Mackintosh Trail Music Room
- Paisley Shawls
- Tom Morris Junior Medal
- Dallas Dhu Stencil
- Captain Scott's Snow Goggles
- Steam Locomotive "Maude"
- Dolly the Sheep
