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 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.
Spearhead, iron. Spearhead with a leaf-shaped head. Similar spearheads dating to the 13th-14th century have also been found in Latvian archaeological material (Brūzis 2012, 43).
Brūzis, R. 2016. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 14.–16. gadsimtā. – Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds.
Valk, H. & Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme I: Muistis ja Ajalugu. Tartu ülikool, Ajaloo ja arheoloogia instituut, Tallinn.
Spearhead socket, iron. Probably from a spearhead with a long, slender socket and a leaf-shaped blade. In Latvia such spearheads were widespread in Couronia, but also occur in Livic areas. They are dated to the 12th–13th centuries (Atgāzis 2019, 54–55). In northern Estonia, similar spearheads are known from 13th-century inhumation burials at Pada (e.g. burial XXXI).
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.
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.
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. 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.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
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. 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.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
Atgāzis, M. 2019. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 10.–13. gadsimtā. Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds. Rīga.
