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
Whetstone.
Valjala hillfort
Potsherd of a pot wall, hand-made ceramic, decorated with rhombic checker. Pots with very similar decoration have been found e g at Rahu stone grave near Valjala, or at Soontagana hill-fort in West-Estonia. Rhombic checker decoration on ceramic was characteristic for Saaremaa, West- and NW-Estonia, the here presented variant is mainly for Saaremaa.
Potsherd of a pot wall, hand-made ceramic, decorated with rhombic checker. Pots with very similar decoration have been found e g at Rahu stone grave near Valjala, or at Soontagana hill-fort in West-Estonia. Rhombic checker decoration on ceramic was characteristic for Saaremaa, West- and NW-Estonia, the here presented variant is mainly for Saaremaa.
Literature:
Tvauri, A. 2005. Latest Iron Age Pottery In Estonia (from the 11th century to the middle of the 13th century). – Muinasaja teadus, 16. Tartu-Tallinn, 60-61, drawing 38: 1. Read the article (ENG p. 177-181): here.
Valjala hillfort
Finger-ring with a widening central part, silver.
Finger-ring with a widening central part, silver. Similar rings have been found in the Eura Luistari and Saramäki burials in Finland where they are dated to the 11th century (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 124–126) and from Abelnieki burials in Latvia, where they are dated from the second half of the 11th century to the beginning of the 13th century (Vasks 2008, 157–158). These rings also occur in Gotland, where they are dated to the 11th-12th century in Gotland (Thunmark-Nylen 1998, Pl. 143). In Saaremaa, a similar finger-ring is recorded in Valjala churchyard where it, according to the context, belongs to the 13th or perhaps late 12th century.
Literature:
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD. CCC papers: 6. Gotland University College, Centre for Baltic Studies; Institute of History, Department of Archaeology. Tallinn, 2002. Read the book: here. Look at the drawings of the archaeological excavations: here.
Thunmark-Nylen, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands. II. Typentafeln. Almqvist & Wiksell, Stockholm.
Thunmark-Nylen, L. 2006. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands. I. Abbildungen der Grabfunde. Almqvist & Wiksell, Stockholm.
Vasks, A. 2008. Kurši padurē? – Pētījumi Kuršu Senatnē. Rakstu Krājums. Latvijas Nacionālā Vēstures Muzeja Raksti, 14, 153–166.
Valjala hillfort
Drawknife or leather tanning tool, Dated according to the find contect.
Drawknife or leather tanning tool (Vasks 2010). Dated according to the find contect.
Literature:
Vasks, A. 2010. Slīmests vai ādu apstrādes rīks. – Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Žurnāls, 2, 5–13.
Valjala hillfort
Spiral.
Valjala hillfort
Penannular brooch, copper alloy. Thickening, grooved ring and lily-shaped terminals.
Penannular brooch, copper alloy. Thickening, grooved ring and lily-shaped terminals. 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. Read the article: here.
Valjala hillfort
Fragment of a finger-ring with thickening grooved central part, bronze. Very widespread artefact type in late 12th-13th century Saaremaa.
Fragment of a finger-ring with thickening grooved central part, bronze. Very widespread artefact type in late 12th-13th century Saaremaa.
Literature:
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD. CCC papers: 6. Gotland University College, Centre for Baltic Studies; Institute of History, Department of Archaeology. Tallinn, 2002. Read the book: here. Look at the drawings of the archaeological excavations: here.
Mägi, M.; Malve, M. & Toome, T. 2019. Early Christian burials at Valjala churchyard, Saaremaa.– Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia, 2018, 93−118, 109. Read the article: here.
Valjala hillfort
Knife.
Tooth pendants.
Literature:
Luik, H. 2004. Luuesemed hilisrauaaja linnamägedel Lõhavere, Soontagana, Varbola ja Valjala leidude põhjal. – A. Haak, E. Russow, A. Tvauri (Toim.). Linnusest ja linnast: uurimusi Vilma Trummali auks = About hillfort and town: studies in honour of Vilma Trummal (157−188). Tallinn, Tartu: Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus. (Muinasaja teadus; 14). Read the article (ENG conclusion p. 185-188): here.
