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.
Sword scabbard end, iron. Unusual shape, dated according to the general context of the find site.
Spearhead, iron. Such small spearheads with rhomboid blades have often been found together with Petersen’s Type M spearheads. (for example Mägi 2002, Pl. 92: 2, 3; Zariņa 2006, Figs. 162, 182:2; Mandel 2017, Pl. 2), and can therefore be dated mainly to the 11th century, possibly also to the beginning of the 12th century.
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.
Spearhead, iron. Petersen´s Type K, dated to the 10th century and the first quarter of the 11th century (Petersen 1919, 31–32; Pedersen 2014, 92-94). Along the eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea, spearheads of Type K have been found mainly in Saaremaa and the Livic area in Latvia, in somewhat lesser amount also in mainland Estonia and Finland (Lehtosalo-Hilander 1982, 32; Mägi 2002, 85). In Latvia, such and similar spearheads have been defined together as Type C1 or B/C, and dated to the 11, perhaps also to the 12th centuries. Similar variants were widespread in Couronia (Atgāzis 2019, 51-52).
Petersen, J. 1919. De Norske Vikingesverd: en typologisk-kronologisk studie over vikingetidens vaaben. Kristiana.
Lehtosalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II. The Artefacts. (SMYA, 82: 2.) Helsinki.
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
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.
Javelin head, iron. With a knife-shaped blade, and a twisted neck section. 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.
Pommel, iron with silver inlay. Petersen´s Type S sword which is dated to the 10th – 11th centuries (Petersen 1919, 142–153). Such sword hilts are in Latvia found mainly in Livic areas and dated to the second half of the 11t century, or to the beginning of the 12th century (Tomsons 2018, 57-58).
Petersen, J. 1919. De Norske Vikingesverd: en typologisk-kronologisk studie over vikingetidens vaaben. Kristiana.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Fragment of a shield boss, iron. In Scandinavia, such shield bosses are dated throughout the Viking Age (Pedersen 2014, 96–101). Considering the find context, this boss can be dated to the 10th–11th century.
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.
Viltina
Sheet metal scabbard end, copper alloy.
Sheet metal scabbard end, copper alloy. These chape ends were common in the territories inhabited by the Curonians during the 12th–13th centuries (Tomsons 2018, 165-167).
Tomsons, A. 2012. Divasmeņu zobeni Latvijas arheoloģiskajā materiālā 9.–13. gadsimtā. Promocijas darbs. Latvijas universitāte.
