Date – 2115

Place – Lerwick

The perennially fragile island economies of the Shetlands finally collapsed under the twin impacts of rising sea level and fish stock depletion. The sparse and ageing population reluctantly migrated to the mainland with their worldly goods, culture and memories.

We can speculate that this object had a totemic significance for the islanders and was possible given to pre pubescent young adults as part of a rites of passage. It may have been worn as display for mating rituals at important gatherings of the exiled community on the mainland. It was part of a co-joined pair that may have been broken and gifted to a prospective mate.

It has been speculated that the small indentation on the top surface of the object was a space for rare samples of actual fish and this has led to many unsubstantiated claims on behalf of these mysterious island people. One such colourful theory intimates that they were able to dream communally when ‘triggered’ by the taste and smell of the fish fragment on the object.

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