A PETITION has been launched to bring the famous St Ninian’s Isle treasure back to Shetland.
The historic silver items were found buried on the isle by Douglas Coutts as a schoolboy in 1958. However, they are stored at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland – with only replicas on show at the Shetland Museum.
Local resident Scott Nicolson has now started an online petition to bring the original pieces, which are a hugely significant find for Shetland, back to the isles.
A spokesperson for National Museums Scotland said the treasure is in Edinburgh due to its national and international significance.
But they said the organisation is “open to discussion” about other forms of collaboration and sharing of the national collection following the publication of a refreshed strategy which commits to working with museums across the country.
There have long been calls for the items to return to Shetland on a permanent basis. They took the trip north on a temporary loan basis back in 1966 and 2008 before heading back to the Scottish capital.
The treasure find consists of 28 silver and silver-gilt decorated objects, thought to have been made during the second half of the eighth century. It includes bowls, a spoon, decorative pieces from swords and 12 brooches. It is thought they could have been hidden from Viking raiders.
It was found during University of Aberdeen excavations of a medieval church that once existed on St Ninian’s Isle. The treasure, which was taken down south after its discovery, was found buried under a slab marked with a cross.
