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.
Valjala hillfort
Knife.
Valjala hillfort
Iron rivet. At the exhibition of Saaremaa Museum.
Iron spade. Similar ones have in Estonia been found for example in Otepää hill-fort and Lehmja settlement site, where they can be dated to a long period. Such spades have been interpreted as charcoal spades connected with smithery, or tools associated with cooking (Pets 2003, 170). At the exhibition of Saaremaa Museum.
Literature:
Peets, J. 2003. The Power of Iron. – Muinasaja teadus, 12. Tallinn.
Pendant, lozenge-shaped. Such pendants are in Estonia and Latvia dated mainly to the 13th century and later (Kurisoo 2021, 146-147). Such pendants occur in several graves at Dundaga Laukmuiža cemetery in Couronis, which is dated to the second half of the 13th or the first half of the 14th century (Muižnieks & Žeiere 2021, 340). At the exhibition of Saaremaa Museum.
Literature:
Muižnieks, V. & Žeiere, I. 2021. Dundagas Laukmuižas 13. – 14. gadsimta senkapi. The 13th-14th Century Cemetery of Dundagas Laukmuiža. – Latvias nacionālā vēstures muzeja raksti nr. 30. Arheoloģija. Rīga, fig. 104.
Kurisoo, T. 2021. Adornment, self-definition, religion: Pendants of the north-eastern Baltic Sea region, 9th-13th century. – Studien zur Siedlungsgeschichte und Archäologie der Ostseegebiete, Band 19. Hamburg: Wachholz.
Länga
Penannular brooch, bronze. Faceted terminals, ornamented lines, and “eyes“. The arch is ribbed on top,
Penannular brooch, bronze. Faceted terminals, ornamented lines, and “eyes“. The arch is ribbed on top. Brooches of this type are characteristic to the inhumations of the 13th century, for example to the Valjala and Karja burial sites (Mägi et al 2019).
Kirjandus:
Mägi, M. 2019. Late Viking Age burial place and ritual deposits at Lööne, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 67–78.
Kalli
Finger ring, bronze. Open, with flat front part. The front part has a side ornament made out of intertwined lines. Rings of this type are common in Estonian stone graves.
Finger ring, bronze. Open, with flat front part. The front part has a side ornament made out of intertwined lines. Rings of this type are common in Estonian stone graves. In Gotland they have been dated to the 10th-12th century (Thynmark-Nylén 1998, Taf 143: 24-28; 2006, 158), which is probably also correct for Saaremaa.
Literature:
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
Kõiguste
Penannular brooch, bronze. Straight-drawn arc, only one rolled terminal left intact. The cross-section of the arch is rhombus-shaped.
Upa
Sword, iron. The handle is decorated with a pattern of triangular motifs in silver engraving.
Sword, iron. Petersen’s T-type, dated to the second half of the 10th century in Scandinavia (Petersen 1919, 152, 183). The hilt is decorated with a pattern of triangular motifs in silver inlay. Swords of this type were common not only in Estonia but also in the areas of Latvia and Russia inhabited by the Baltic Finns, and in Finland, where they can be dated mainly to the 10th, but sometimes also to the 11th century (Moilanen 2015, 153-154; Tomsons 2018, 62-65).
Literature:
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 nr. 27. Rīga.
Upa
Tweezers, bronze. Decorated with a diagonal line.
Tweezers, bronze. Decorated with a diagonal line. Similar tweezers are found for example from the 5th to the 6th century burials in Lepna (Mägi 2004).
Literature:
Mägi, M. 2004. The mortuary house at Lepna on Southern Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldworks in Estonia 2003. Tallinn: Muinsuskaitseamet, 45-60.
