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 chape, copper alloy. In addition to Saaremaa, such examples have also been found in surrounding regions, for example in Gotland, Couronia, and the Livic area in Latvia, where they are dated to the 12th-13th centuries (Asaris 1994; Tomsons 2018, 157–162).
Asaris, J. 1994. 11.–13. gs. zobena maksts bronzas uzgaļu tipi un to izplatība Kurzeme. – Arheoloģija un Etnogrāfija, XVII. Riga, 21–28.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Sword, iron, with silver inlay. Petersen’s T-type. Decorated with concentric circles, bent. Sword parts with similar ornaments have been found elsewhere in Estonia and are also known from Latvia and Lithuania (Jets, 2013, 110). They are dated mainly to the 10th-11th centuries, sometimes also to the beginning of the 12th century (Tomsons 2018, 60-61).
Jets, I. 2013. Lahingu maod. Skandinaavia 9.-11. sajandi sajandi kunstistiilid Eesti arheoloogilistel leidudel. Tallinn: Tallinna Ülikooli Kirjastus.
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. 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.
Tanged javelin head, iron. The neck is twisted. Similar javelin heads have been found in Saaremaa both in stone graves with cremation burials (e.g. the Rahu grave; Mägi 2002, Pl. 76:1, 83:4) and at hillforts (Pöide). Similar javelin heads in Latvia have been classified by Brūzis as type B1 and dated mainly to the 14th century (Brūzis 2016, 120, 280), although based on the find contexts a dating to the 13th century cannot be excluded. Judging by the find context and blade shape, it most likely belongs to the very end of the 12th century or to the 13th century.
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.
Brūzis, R. 2016. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 14.–16. gadsimtā. – Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds.
Sword-scabbard chape, copper alloy. According to Kazakevičius’ typology, type IIIa, which was widely distributed throughout the Baltic region and is mainly dated to the 11th century (Kazakevičius 1992, 289, 298; Tomsons 2018, 147–148).
Kazakevičius, V. 1998. Iš vėlyvojo geležies amžiaus baltų ginklų istorijos (kalavijų makštų galų apkalai). – Lietuvos Arceologija, 15, 287-332.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti, 27. Rīga.
Javelin head with a uniform tang, iron.
Javelin head with a uniform tang, iron. The dimensions and form suggest a medieval date (cf. Brūzis 2016, 120, 280–281).
Brūzis, R. 2016. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 14.–16. gadsimtā. – Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds.
Hilt guard, iron. Long straight guards in Latvia are dated, according to the shape of the pommel, from the second half of the 12th century to the end of the 13th century, sometimes to even later period (Tomsons 2018, 109-115).
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Pommel, iron. The later variant of Petersen´s Type T swords. Petersen and several ohter researchers date the T-type sword hilts to the second half of the 10th until the beginning of the 11th century (Moilanen 2015, 253). In the lands east of the Baltic Sea, such hilts were also widespread in the 11th-12th centuries, according to some scholars even as late as in the 13th century (Tomsons 2018, 59, 80-94). They are mainly represented by fragmentary finds in cremation burials, as well as at archaeological sites that have been destroyed or not properly analysed (Kazakevičius 1997, 123; Tomsons 2018, 142). In Estonia, they can mainly be dated to the 11th-12th centuries.
Kazakevičius, V. 1997. On One Type of Baltic Sword of the Viking Period. – Archaeologica Baltica, 2, 117–132.
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.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. (Latvijas Nacionālā Vēstures Muzeja raksti, 27.) Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs, Rīga.
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