Database
Our database is free to use for all history and archaeology enthusiasts. If you use our database, please do not forget to cite correctly:
Mägi, Marika; Palm, Piia Sandra. Archaeological Artefacts of Saaremaa. Foundation Osiliana / Tallinn University. Accessed: date.
The Osiliana Archaeological Database presents artefacts from Saaremaa and the surrounding small islands.
The database contains mainly Iron Age and Medieval finds that can be classified.
Undated metal or other pieces were generally excluded from the database.
Ceramics are represented by isolated examples.
The database is a work in progress and is constantly being updated.
Laheküla
Fragment of bracelet, bronze. Probably a hollow bracelet with narrowing ends, as found in 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa. Fragment with typical ornamentation.
Fragment of a bracelet, bronze. Probably a hollow bracelet with narrowing ends, as found in 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa (Mägi et al 2019, 97). Fragment with typical ornamentation.
Literature:
Mägi, M.; Malve, M. & Toome, T. 2019. Early Christian burials at Valjala churchyard, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 93−118.
Upa
Penannular brooch, bronze. With blossom-shaped terminals, a flat rhombic-shaped arched cross-section, with a broad needle. Arch with wolf-tooth ornamentation, with circles on the needle.
Penannular brooch, bronze. With blossom-shaped terminals, the cross-section of the arch is flat rhomb, with a broad needle. Arch with wolf-tooth ornamentation, the needle decorated with circles. Quite similar penannular brooches have been found in some Siksälä burials dated to the first half or the whole of the 14th century (Valk et al 2014, 151, 283). Some burials with penannular brooches with blossom-shaped terminals have also been dated to the period 1350-1475 in Siksälä (Valk et al 2014, 234, 248). The Upa brooch probably dates to the 14th century.
Literature:
Valk, H., Ratas, J., Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme II. Matuste ja leidude kataloog. Tartu Ülikool: Tartu.
Kingli
Disc-shaped brooch, bronze. Finnish, but recently more and more of these have been found in Estonia.
Disc-shaped brooch, bronze. Finnish, but recently more and more of these have been found in Estonia. Probably type C, defined by Appelgreni and dated by Pirkko-Liisa Lehtosalo-Hilander to the period 925-975. (Moilanen 2020).
Literature:
Moilanen, M. 2015. Marks of Fire, Value and Faith. Swords with Ferrous Inlays in Finland during the Late Iron Age (ca. 700–1200 AD). Suomen Keskiajan Arkeologian Seura: Turku.
Kingli
Buckle, bronze. Round fronted ladies’ buckle. They were attached at either end of the belt and fastened together with, for example, an iron or bronze hook. Typical of 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa and coastal Estonia, but sometimes found in stone graves as well.
Buckle, bronze. Round fronted ladies’ buckle. They were attached at either end of the belt and fastened together with, for example, an iron or bronze hook. Typical of 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa and coastal Estonia, but sometimes found in stone graves as well.
Kõiguste
Penannular brooch, bronze. Rolled terminals, the cross-section of the arch is hexagonal, almost rhombic, the needle is narrow. Judging by the size and shape of the cross-section of the arch and the needle, it should belong to the second or first half of the 10th or 11th century.
Penannular brooch, bronze. Rolled terminals, the cross-section of the arch is hexagonal, almost rhombic, the needle is narrow. Judging by the size and shape of the cross-section of the arch and the needle, it should belong to the second or first half of the 10th or 11th century. Similar ones can be found for example from Laukskola, burial no. 304 (Zariņa 2006, Pl 197: 2).
Literature:
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Tõnija
Chain holder, bronze. Semi-oval, with three branches, but only the middle branch has a loop. There is some kind of relief ornament on the front of the upper branch, but it is not possible to say whether it could have been in the form of a human face, as some of the chain holders of this type have.
Chain holder, bronze. Semi-oval, with three branches, but only the middle branch has a loop. There is some kind of relief ornament on the front of the upper branch, but it is not possible to say whether it could have been in the form of a human face, as some of the chain holders of this type have.
Valjala
Pendant, bronze. Rhombus-shaped, ornamented with fluted lines, one end profiled with lines.
Pendant, bronze. Rhombus-shaped, ornamented with fluted lines, one end profiled with lines. Similar to those cross pendants with rhombus-shaped central parts from Siksälä are dated to the 14th-15th century (Valk et al 2014, 79, 103, 197, 298).
Literature:
Valk, H., Ratas, J., Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme II. Matuste ja leidude kataloog. Tartu Ülikool: Tartu.
Lõve/Sakla
Bells, 2, iron. Square-shaped, with a large loop. Probably from the side of the harness. Such finds are common in late prehistoric stone graves.
Bells, 2, iron. Square-shaped, with a large loop. Probably from the side of the harness. Such finds are common in late prehistoric stone graves.
Laheküla
Fragment of penannular brooch, bronze. Half arch and irregularly-shaped flat terminal. Medieval or early Modern time.
