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.
Länga
Sword scabbard end, bronze. The top part is azure, with a rather robust finish.
Sword scabbard end, bronze. The top part is azure, with a rather robust finish. It has not been possible to find an exact match, but in any case they seem to be missing in Latvia and Lithuania (Tomsons 2018; Kazakevićius 1992). It is possible that the sword scabbard end belongs to the medieval period, as most other finds from the surrounding area.
Literature:
Kazakevićius, V. 1992. Sword shapes from Lithuania. – Die Kontakte zwischen Ostbaltikum und Skandinavien im frühen Mittelalter. Acta Universitatis Stockholmiensis, Studia Baltica Stockholmiensia. Stockholm, 91-107.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. – Latvijas nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 27. Rīga.
Upa
Handmade ceramics, decorated with a lattice ornament. This type of pottery with lattice patterns was characteristic of north-western and western Estonia and Saaremaa.
Handmade ceramics, decorated with a lattice ornament. This type of pottery with lattice patterns was characteristic of north-western and western Estonia and Saaremaa. 11th-12th century (Tvauri 2005, 92-101).
Literature:
Tvauri, A. 2005. Eesti hilisrauaaja savinõud. – Muinasaja teadus, 16. Tartu-Tallinn.
Upa
Cross-headed pin made into cross-shaped pendant, bronze. The four rounded ends of the pin-head are connected by curved arches. Such pins are frequently found in 13th-century inhumations, seldom in prehistoric stone graves. The pendant dates to the 13th-14th centuries.
Cross-headed pin made into cross-shaped pendant, bronze. The four rounded ends of the pin-head are connected by curved arches. Such pins are frequently found in 13th-century inhumations, seldom in prehistoric stone graves. The pendant dates to the 13th-14th centuries.
Upa
Spearhead, iron. Narrow, almost oval blade, long neck and socket.
Spearhead, iron. Narrow, almost oval blade, long neck and socket. Such spearheads with a long neck and a long socket are dated in Finland to the 5th-6th century. (Kivikoski 1973, 52, Pl. 36:303).
Literature:
Kivikoski, E. 1973. Die Eisenzeit Finnlands. Bildwerk und Text. Neuausgabe. Helsinki.
Upa
Spearhead, iron. With tang, with a round neck of circular cross-section, with rounded edges. Blade patten-welded.
Spearhead, iron. With tang, with a round neck of circular cross-section, with rounded edges. Blade patten-welded. Based on Russian analogues, it can be dated from the 9th to the beginning of the 11th century (Kirpitchnikov 1966b, fig. 1).
Literature:
Kirpichnikov 1966b = Кирпичников, А. H. 1966. Древнерусское оружие IX – XIII вв. Выпуск 2. Копья, сулицы, боевые топоры, булавы, кистени. Наука: Москва.
Ure
Mount, bronze. An elongated rectangle that had been attached at the ends to a belt or elsewhere with two small bronze rivets.
Mount, bronze. An elongated rectangle that had been attached at the ends to a belt or elsewhere with two small bronze rivets.
Ure
Piece of gold plate from a crossbow brooch (?), most probably from the arc. Embossed ornament with two zones of buttons and two zones of slashes between them. Ornament is similar to that of brooch nr SM10862:18.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Piece of gold plate from a crossbow brooch (?), most probably from the arc. Embossed ornament with two zones of buttons and two zones of slashes between them. Ornament is similar to that of brooch nr SM10862:18.
Ure
Nail, iron.
Ure
Mount, bronze. In the shape of rhombus, ornamented with a narrow line at the edge.
Mount, bronze. In the shape of rhombus, ornamented with a narrow line at the edge.
