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Lewis chessmen

When were they discovered?

Found on Lewis in 1831, they are probably the most well-known archaeological find from Scotland.  The precise findspot seems to have been a beach where they may have been placed in a small, drystone chamber.

What was found?

Of the 93 gaming pieces known to us today they include 78 chessmen, 14 tables-men and a buckle to secure a bag. 

The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the form of seated kings and queens, bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks.

The hoard is likely to be made up of four chess sets, 11 of the chessmen are at the National Museums Scotland and the remaining 82 reside at the British Museum.

Where do they come from?

The Lewis chessmen have  fascinated visitors and art historians alike. It is believed they are Scandinavian in origin, and it is possible they belonged to a merchant travelling from Norway to Ireland.

They were probably made in Norway late 12th and early 13th centuries and where the chessmen were buried, was part of the Kingdom of Norway, not Scotland.  It seems likely they were buried for safe keeping on route to be traded in Ireland.

Fact or fiction?

© Ross Scott Photography

There are several different and colourful theories about how the hoard came to be hidden at Uig on Lewis.  

• Were they stolen from a passing ship?
• Were they hidden by a travelling merchant?
• Could the hoard be the prized possession of a local prince, nobleman or senior churchman?
• Were they made by different craftsmen in the same workshop?
• Were some of the pieces for hnefatafl, a popular chess like game and others for chess?

Although many questions remain unanswered, there continues to be fascination with this remarkable group of iconic objects, 180 years after their discovery on Lewis.