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; Niinesalu-Moon, Maris; Rannaäär, Karin; Leiman, Lisanna Lee. 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.
Hilt guard, iron. Long, straight guards were widespread during the second half of the 12th century, in the 13th century and later (e.g. Tomsons 2018, 109-132). Occur with different pommels. This particular guard can, according to the context, be dated no later than the first half of the 13th century.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Spearhead, iron. Petersen´s Type M spearhead, dated mainly to the 11th century, or the beginning of the 12th century (Pedersen 2014, 92). In Latvia and the surrounding countries is this a widespread spearhead type (Atgāzis’ Type B), dated to the 11th -12th centuries (Atgāzis 2019, 48-50).
Pedersen, A. 2014. Dead Warriors – a study of weapon and equestrian burials in viking-age Denmark, AD 800-1000. National Museum Studies in Archaeology. University Press of Southern Denmark: Odense.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
Spearhead, iron. With a leaf-shaped blade. Probably a further development of Petersen type G spearheads with curved blade edges. Such spearheads are abundant in stone graves in Saaremaa, sometimes also in probable complexes (e.g. in Käku cemetery, Mägi 2002, Pl. 14:6). In Latvia they were widespread mainly in the Livonian area and occasionally also in Courland, and they are dated primarily to the 11th century, possibly also to the first half of the 12th century (Atgāzis 2019, 55–57; Zariņa 2006, figs. 157–158, 174, 203).
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
Hilt guard, iron. Long, straight guards were widespread during the second half of the 12th century, in the 13th century and later (e.g. Tomsons 2018, 109-132). Occur with different pommels. This particular guard can, according to the context, be dated no later than the first half of the 13th century.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Spearhead, iron. With a leaf-shaped blade. Probably a further development of Petersen type G spearheads with curved blade edges. Such spearheads are abundant in stone graves in Saaremaa, sometimes also in probable complexes (e.g. in Käku cemetery, Mägi 2002, Pl. 14:6). In Latvia they were widespread mainly in the Livonian area and occasionally also in Courland, and they are dated primarily to the 11th century, possibly also to the first half of the 12th century (Atgāzis 2019, 55–57; Zariņa 2006, figs. 157–158, 174, 203).
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD. Tallinn: Ajaloo Instituut, Tallinn/Center of Baltic Studies, Gotland. Loe kogu teost: siin. Arheoloogiliste leidude joonised on leitavad: siin
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
Spearhead, iron. With a leaf-shaped blade, blade decorated with pseudo-pattern-welding. Probably a further development of Petersen type G spearheads with curved blade edges. Such spearheads are abundant in stone graves in Saaremaa, sometimes also in probable complexes (e.g. in Käku cemetery, Mägi 2002, Pl. 14:6). In Latvia they were widespread mainly in the Livonian area and occasionally also in Courland, and they are dated primarily to the 11th century, possibly also to the first half of the 12th century (Atgāzis 2019, 55–57; Zariņa 2006, figs. 157–158, 174, 203).
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD. Tallinn: Ajaloo Instituut, Tallinn/Center of Baltic Studies, Gotland. Loe kogu teost: siin. Arheoloogiliste leidude joonised on leitavad: siin
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
Spearhead, iron. With a long, slender, almost triangular blade. Such spearheads were widespread in stone graves with cremation burials in Saaremaa and western Estonia, where they were previously dated to a longer period (e.g. Mägi 2002, Pl. 41:4, 68:1), but more recently to the second half of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th century (Mandel 2017, 73). Although such spearheads have not been classified as a separate type in Latvia, they are likewise dated in Livonian burials in the lower reaches of the Daugava River to the second half of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th century (Zariņa 2006, 172, burials 429–430; see also Atgāzis 2019, 51–55).
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th Centuries AD. (CCC Papers, 6.) Tallinn.
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
Javelin head fragment, iron. With a twisted neck section and probably with knife-shaped blade. Such javelin heads were especially characteristic for Saaremaa and coastal Estonia, but they are also found in surrounding areas. Although it has been suggested that such javelin heads came into use already at the end of the 11th century (Peets & Valt 2011), they nevertheless seem to be associated rather with the second half of the 12th century and the 13th century (Mandel 2017, 73). Among other contexts, they occur in 13th-century inhumation burials, for example at Pada in northern Estonia.
Peets, J. & Valt, J. 2011. Ühest rauaaja lõpu relvast Saarmaal, mandri-Eestis ja naaberpiirkondades. – Saaremaa Muuseum, kaheaastaraamat 2009–2010 (3–29). Saaremaa Muuseum, Kuressaare.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
