Lewis chessmen

A clutch of the historic Lewis Chessmen should be given a permanent home in the Western Isles according to a Lewis councillor

Norman Macdonald who is the representative for Uig ward where the Viking treasure was discovered called for the repatriation of at least a handful of the gaming pieces to the place they were found.

The 1000-year-old Lewis Chessmen are Scotland’s most famous archaeological discovery. They were found by an Uig crofter in a sandbank by Ardroil on the rugged west coast of Lewis in 1831.

Eleven figures belong to the National Museum of Scotland while the remaining 82 are held by the kept by the British Museum.

A third of the hoard is currently on tour around Scotland prompting Mr Macdonald’s call for a compromise partial repatriation.

Despite the large number of pieces there is not one complete set - an important factor which Mr Macdonald says would facilitate the return of two or three random chessmen.

Mr Macdonald says it means no set would be spilt and that the bulk of the collection would still be retained in national venues in London and Edinburgh.

Mr Macdonald said: “It isn’t right that they are all kept in London and Edinburgh.

“Some should come back here to the Western Isles.”

This would create a “huge boost to the islands’ tourism industry and help the local economy, ” he added.

Islanders believe that the Uig museum which overlooks the stunning sandy bay where they were hidden would be an excellent home for them and allow visitors to put the hoard into a landscape concept.

Hidden on the Uig machair for centuries, the walrus ivory chessmen were discovered by Ardroil in 1831 by a villager. They are known as the Lewis Chessmen by southern historians but on Lewis they are called after the district of Uig where they were found.

They are believed to have been made in Norway, during the Viking period and imported via ship on one of the Norse’ expeditions to the Hebrides.

They were dispersed to private collectors but most were eventually purchased by the British Museum. The remaining 11 belong to the National Museum of Scotland.

A spokesperson for the British Museum said: “The British Museum is committed to maintaining and extending access to the chessmen for its audiences across the UK and the world.

“The Museum in partnership with National Museums Scotland has organised a tour of a group of the Chessmen which will travel to four venues across Scotland.

"“The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked” is currently on show at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh until 19th September 2010 and will travel to Aberdeen Art Gallery, Shetland Museum & Archives and Museum nan Eilean, Stornoway.”

Call to take Lewis Chessmen home 24/5/10

Cllr Norman Macdonald believes some of the Lewis Chessmen should be returned to the Hebrides