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.
Mullutu
Finger-ring with thickening middle part, bronze.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Finger-ring with thickening middle part, bronze.
Mullutu
Finger-ring with middle shield, bronze.
Finger-ring with middle shield, bronze.
Literature:
Valk, H.; Ratas, J. & Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme, II. Matuste ja leidude kataloog. Tartu.
Mullutu
Penannular brooch, copper alloy. Tvisted ring and lily-shaped terminals.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Penannular brooch, copper alloy. Tvisted ring and lily-shaped terminals. Somewhat similar brooch was found in buril No 1 at Valjala churchyard in 1971 (Mägi et al 2019). Based on the shape of the ring, as well as similar brooches in inhumation graves in Couronia and in St Peter’s churchyard in Riga, the brooch can be dated to the 13th-14th century, although similar types were used until the third quarter of the 15th century (Vaska 2017, 62-64).
Literature:
Vaska, B. 2017. Rotas un ornaments Latvijā no 13.gs. līdz 18.gs. vidum. Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs. Rīga.
Mägi, M.; Malve, M. & Toome, T. 2019. Early Christian burials at Valjala churchyard, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 93−118, 94. Loe artiklit: siin.
Mullutu
Fragment of a flat crossbow-shaped brooch, probably have been with poppy-shaped ends, copper alloy.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Fragment of a flat crossbow-shaped brooch, probably have been with poppy-shaped ends, copper alloy. Big flat crossbow-brooches were widespread in the Eastern Baltic and Finland, which in Latvia and Lithuania were used mainly in the 7th/8th – 9th centuries, in Couronia also in the 10th-11th centuries (Bliujienė, A. 1999., 106-111; Vaska 2019, 170-175). Several fragments found with metal detector in stone graves of Coastal Estonia in the last decades (e.g. Kiudsoo 2016, 54–57; Mägi 2020) suggest that such brooches were also in Saaremaa used up to the early 11th century.
Literature:
Bliujienė, A. 1999. Vikingų epochos kuršių papuošalų ornamentika. Vilnius: Diemedžio Leidykla.
Mägi, M. 2020. Before the hill fort of Valjala was built. Landing places and graves along the Lõve River in Saaremaa. Arheoloogilised välitööd Eestis = Archeological fieldwork in Estonia, 2019, 69−78.
Kiudsoo, M. 2016. Viikingiaegsed aarded Eestist. Idateest, rauast ja hõbedast. Imeline Ajalugu, Äripäev, Tallinn.
Vaska, . 2019. Rotas un ornaments Latvijā no bronzas laikmeta līdz 13. gadsimtam. Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs. Rīga.
Mullutu
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a simple three-part gnarl.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a simple three-part gnarl. Such brooches are in Estonia dated predominantly to the first half of the 13th century (Pauts 1997).
Literature:
Pauts, H. 1997. Pahaga hoburaudsõled Eestis. (Töid ajaloo alalt, I.) Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn, 79-115.
Mullutu
Pendant, bronze. Similar ones have been found in Couronia and Semigallia.
Pendant, bronze. Similar ones have been found in Couronia and Semigallia.
Literature:
Griciuvienė, E. (prepared by). 2005. Žiemgaliai. Baltų archeologijos paroda. Katalogas. The Semigallians. Baltic Archaeological Exhibition. Catalogue. Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus, Latvijas Vēstures muzejs, Vilnius – Riga, 114.
Square belt mount, bronze.
Mullutu
Shield mount (?) of bronze. Similar fittings have been found in Birka and associated with shield handle’s decoration.
Last photo: Jaana Ratas.
Shield mount (?) of bronze. Similar fittings have been found in Birka and associated with shield handle’s decoration.
Read more:
Arbman, H. 1940. Birka I. Die Gräber. Tafeln. Stockholm, Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien, Taf. 19: 1-6.
Mullutu
End of a sword sheath, bronze. A widespread type in Saaremaa and Couronia.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
End of a sword sheath, bronze. A widespread type in Saaremaa and Couronia.
Literature:
Kazakevićius, V. 1998. Iś velyvojo geleźies amźiaus baltu ginklu istorijos (kalaviju makśtu galu apkalai). – Lietuvos Archeoligija, 15. Vilnius, 287–327, fig 30-31.
Tomsons, A. 2018. Zobeni Latvijas teritorijā no 7. līdz 16. gadsimtam. – Latvijas Nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti Nr. 27. Rīga, 168.
