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.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a rhomb-shaped cross-section, the needle has a broad base. Such brooches have been found in stone graves with cremations, where they can belong to the late 12th century. They are more widespread in inhumation graves or found as stray-finds. In Siksälä Cemetery, SE-Estonia, such brooches are dated, depending on the shape of the ring and pin, to the 13th-15th centuries (Valk & Laul 2014, 102-103).
Valk, H. & Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme I: Muistis ja Ajalugu. Tartu ülikool, Ajaloo ja arheoloogia instituut, Tallinn.
Penannular brooch with round poppy-shaped terminals, copper alloy.
Penannular brooch with round poppy-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a narrow-based pin.The cross-section of the ring is round. Such brooches were widespread in Latgallia and South-Estonia in the 11th-12th century (Mägi 2002, 100-101; Vaska 2019, 198).
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.
Vaska, B. 2019. Rotas un ornaments Latvijā no bronzas laikmeta līdz 13. gadsimtam. Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs. Rīga
Penannular brooch, copper alloy. With a rhomb-shaped cross-section of the arch. Prpbably been with knob- or faceted terminals.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a round-shaped cross-section. Such brooches have been found in stone graves with cremations, where they can belong to the late 12th century. They are more widespread in inhumation graves or found as stray-finds. In Siksälä Cemetery, SE-Estonia, such brooches are dated, depending on the shape of the ring and pin, to the 13th-15th centuries (Valk & Laul 2014, 102-103).
Valk, H. & Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme I: Muistis ja Ajalugu. Tartu ülikool, Ajaloo ja arheoloogia instituut, Tallinn.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy.
Penannular brooch with knob-shaped terminals, copper alloy. With a rhomb-shaped cross-section. Such brooches have been found in stone graves with cremations, where they can belong to the late 12th century. They are more widespread in inhumation graves or found as stray-finds. In Siksälä Cemetery, SE-Estonia, such brooches are dated, depending on the shape of the ring and pin, to the 13th-15th centuries (Valk & Laul 2014, 102-103).
Valk, H. & Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme I: Muistis ja Ajalugu. Tartu ülikool, Ajaloo ja arheoloogia instituut, Tallinn.
Penannular brooch with short, rolled terminals, copper alloy.
Penannular brooch with short, rolled terminals, copper alloy. This type of penannular brooches were in ethnic Baltic areas used during a longer period, 8th-14th century (Vaska 2017, 26; 2019, 201). The earliest such brooches in Estonia can, according to the present data, dated to the 9th century, but they can also be found as late as in the 13th-century inhumations (Mägi-Lõugas 1994, 473; Mägi 2002, 100).
Mägi-Lõugas, M. 1994. Eesti viikingiaegsed hoburaudsôled ja nende ornament. – Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised, Humanitaar- ja Sotsiaalteadused 1994, 43: 4, 465-484.
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.
Vaska, B. 2017. Rotas un ornaments Latvijā no 13.gs. līdz 18.gs. vidum. Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs. Rīga.
Vaska, B. 2019. Rotas un ornaments Latvijā no bronzas laikmeta līdz 13. gadsimtam. Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs. Rīga.
The negative value refers to time Before Christ.