From this page you can find articles, research and books written about the history of Saaremaa
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Funding for Osiliana was continued!
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Audioguides at Valjala hillfort
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Learn about the archaeological sites of Saaremaa
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Two silver coin treasures found on the island of Muhu!
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"Treasures of the World" led by historian Bettany Hughes discovers the treasures of Saaremaa
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Our
mission

Foundation Osiliana scientifically researches archaeological and historical sites and artefacts of prehistorical and medieval Saaremaa. In addition to Saaremaa, Muhu and other surrounding smaller islands (e.g., Vilsandi, Abruka) are researched.

 

For research, a Database of Artefacts of Saaremaa will be created that will give an overview of the archaeological artefacts, different types of finds, local and imported material culture.

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Arm-ring from the cemetery of Karja

Archaeological Sites of Saaremaa

7.21. Sotka (1)

TORNIMÄE HARBOR SITE

Tornimägi was until 19th century known in Estonian as Hill-Fort (“Linnamägi”), because of its peculiar landscape. However,  archaeological excavations have shown that there was a Viking-Age harbor site!

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LEPNA2

LEPNA MORTUARY HOUSE

 

Lepna mortuary house was a cult building, which was used for collective sacred rituals for the deceased. Besides its particular function, it also stands out with its rich silver artefacts from the 5th-6th centuries of the Great Migration that is otherwise a rather poor era.

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Kaali kaevandid

KAALI

Kaali lake and the surrounding cultural landscape have traces of human activity already from the Bronze Age. There are many mythical stories about the meteor crater, but what do we know by the archaeological excavations?

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Research

tuiu

The article Excavations at the Tuiu iron-smelting site, Saaremaa gives an in-depth overview of an iron-smelting site situated in North Saaremaa that was first used already in the 8th century but saw its most intense use during the period from 12th to 14th centuries.

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kodukale

Monography At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD dives into the centuries of the end of prehistorical and early medieval period of Saaremaa and Muhu. It is mainly based on the burials and the artefacts, which are analyzed in the international context with the rest of the archaeological material and written sources.

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See all the research

Database of Artefacts of Saaremaa

News

A huge thank you to everyone who braved yesterday’s torrential rain and came to see the excavations with their own eyes!

 

They say the third time’s the charm, and since rain has now caught us on our Open Doors Day three years in a row, perhaps we can hope that the weather gods will show us some mercy next year. But we won’t know for sure until next summer.

 

Until the next excavations!

Although 20 August was a work day for us, it was a little more festive than usual!

 

In the foreground are the lower layers of a 13th–14th-century elite residence on Saaremaa. Once, roughly at this spot, one could have stepped from the larger, more prominent central building into an adjoining chamber equipped with a stove.

 

Happy Restoration of Independence Day, dear Estonia!

The excavation of the large building occupying a central position in the courtyard of Pöide hillfort was extended further this year.

 

Several finds, including fragments of small, thin-bladed knives, a decorative mount, and a coin minted in Götaland in the 1240s, provide evidence of medieval inhabitants who probably belonged to the upper strata of contemporary society. An even better-preserved small 14th–15th-century knife with a bronze-decorated handle was found in the same building already in 2024.

 

What were such knives used for?

 

Most likely for eating as part of more refining circumstances but perhaps also for tasks such as sharpening quill pens for writing.

This year, three archaeology students from the University of Helsinki are joining us at the Pöide hillfort excavations as part of their archaeological fieldwork training.

 

Their task is to investigate the curious structures detected by ground-penetrating radar near the foot of the hillfort and find out what they might be.

Our third season of archaeological excavations at Pöide hillfort has begun!

 

We have uncovered the previous excavation area and are ready to continue our research with new discoveries awaiting us!

The last few days before the summer solstice have been particularly busy for us. Together with the Osiliana detectorists, we have been out in the field searching for the town of Valjala mentioned by Henry in his Chronicle of Livonia. At the same time, together with geologists Alar Rosentau and Kärt Luik, we tried to identify the potential location of an ancient harbour near Valjala hillfort.

 

As one of the photos shows, at times it was quite a challenge to make our way through the dense undergrowth in search of traces of past settlement. A true Estonian jungle experience!

 

The search for the location of the Valjala town (urbs) described by chronicler Henry, however, continues.

A new volume on the Salme ship burials has been published: The Salme Ship Burials: Two Eighth-Century Mass Graves on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Recent Research. Edited by Lembi Lõugas and Heidi Luik.

 

The Salme ship burials, discovered in 2008 and 2010 on Saaremaa Island in Estonia, represent a unique and significant archaeological site that continues to provide valuable material for interdisciplinary research. A collection titled Recent Research presents thirteen articles that explore various aspects of the site, demonstrating that the Salme complex still offers many avenues for future study.

The research is divided into five main themes. First, studies of the landscape (including cultural landscape) explain how the local society, environment and coastline looked at the time of the burials. Second, analysis of weapons — especially decorated swords — reveals information about craftsmanship and long-distance connections.

Third, personal items such as gaming pieces, combs, and brooches provide insight into the daily life and culture of the buried warriors. Fourth, researchers use modern methods like 3D modelling and photogrammetry to reconstruct the ships and better understand their structure.

Finally, studies of human and animal remains show that the buried men likely died violently and give information about their health, diet, and origins. The presence of dogs and birds of prey suggests they had special cultural importance in burial practices.

 

Overall, the publication highlights the multidisciplinary nature of Salme research and emphasizes that the site remains an important source for understanding pre-Viking and early Viking Age societies, warfare, and burial traditions.

The book brings together no fewer than 13 new studies, including Marika Mägi’s article “The Cultural Landscape Around the Salme Find.”

 

The book is available for purchase from Tallinn University Press as well as from major bookstores.

From April 16–18, an international conference held in English will take place in Tartu, featuring presentations by Marika Mägi and Piia Sandra Palm: “The Baltic Sea Region, 1100–1400: Indigenous Societies, Cultures and Traditions in a Time of Changes.”

The conference addresses the history of local inhabitants during the transition from prehistory to the Middle Ages. In addition to various specific topics, broader themes include the role of indigenous communities in changing social conditions, hillforts, burial sites, and the arrival of Christianity. Most presentations are based on archaeological evidence. The central message of the conference is that the transition from prehistory to the Middle Ages was more gradual and multifaceted than commonly assumed.

Archaeologists and historians from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark will participate in the conference.

📍 The conference can also be followed online – see more details here: https://sisu.ut.ee/…/rahvusvaheline-konverents…/

 

We have launched our audio-guides in English (and Estonian) for Valjala hillfort!

Finally, we can reveal to you a project we have been working on for some time now and the first fruits of it are in front of you.

There are four audio guides in Valjala hillfort available freely to anyone to use: one telling the story of the town of Valjala, another of the hillfort itself, one about the courtyard of the hillfort in its heyday and what took place in there, and one about the ramparts of the hillfort.

The audio-guides can be listened to via QR codes attached to the posts in four different locations – in locations that offer the best view according to the theme.

In addition, we replaced the old information poster with a new one.

Here’s also a little sneak-peak in the form of an audio guide to the town of Valjala:

Partners

All the local and expatriate people of Saaremaa & parties interested in the history of Saaremaa

Saaremaa Museum

Tallinn University

National Heritage Board

Our partners

All the archaeological artefacts that are either gained through the operation of SA Osiliana or given to SA Osiliana, will be conservated and organized by the expenditure of SA Osiliana, and artefacts will be transferred to the Saaremaa Museum.

 

Collected information and written reports are also transmitted by SA Osiliana to the National Heritage Board. In addition to the National Heritage Board, the reports will also be transmitted to the archive of Tallinn University’s archaeological research collection and the archive of Saaremaa Museum.

 

The artefacts registered by the SA Osiliana will be transferred to the National Heritage Board for heritage protection.

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    TOETA SAAREMAA
    AJALOO UURIMIST

    Sihtasutus Osiliana uurib ja tutvustab Saaremaa arheoloogilist ja ajaloolist pärandit.

     

    Sinu annetus aitab kaasa uutele uuringutele, arheoloogilistele kaevamistele ja muudele välitöödele ning uurimistulemuste avalikkusele kättesaadavaks tegemisele.

     

    Meie tegevust on võimalik toetada, tehes ülekanne sihtasutuse kontole:

     

    NIMI: SA Osiliana

    IBAN: EE422200221074581431

     

    SUUR AITÄH, ET TOETAD TEADUST!