Database
The Osiliana archaeological database brings together artefacts from Saaremaa and the surrounding small islands.
Most of Saaremaa’s archaeological finds are held in the collection of the Saaremaa Museum and in the Tallinn University Research Collection.
We are gradually adding more and more finds and hope that it will become a useful tool for all history and archaeology enthusiasts!
Kingli
Buckle, bronze. Round fronted ladies’ buckle. They were attached at either end of the belt and fastened together with, for example, an iron or bronze hook. Typical of 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa and coastal Estonia, but sometimes found in stone graves as well.
Buckle, bronze. Round fronted ladies’ buckle. They were attached at either end of the belt and fastened together with, for example, an iron or bronze hook. Typical of 13th-century inhumations in Saaremaa and coastal Estonia, but sometimes found in stone graves as well.
Kõiguste
Penannular brooch, bronze. Rolled terminals, the cross-section of the arch is hexagonal, almost rhombic, the needle is narrow. Judging by the size and shape of the cross-section of the arch and the needle, it should belong to the second or first half of the 10th or 11th century.
Penannular brooch, bronze. Rolled terminals, the cross-section of the arch is hexagonal, almost rhombic, the needle is narrow. Judging by the size and shape of the cross-section of the arch and the needle, it should belong to the second or first half of the 10th or 11th century. Similar ones can be found for example from Laukskola, burial no. 304 (Zariņa 2006, Pl 197: 2).
Literature:
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Tõnija
Chain holder, bronze. Semi-oval, with three branches, but only the middle branch has a loop. There is some kind of relief ornament on the front of the upper branch, but it is not possible to say whether it could have been in the form of a human face, as some of the chain holders of this type have.
Chain holder, bronze. Semi-oval, with three branches, but only the middle branch has a loop. There is some kind of relief ornament on the front of the upper branch, but it is not possible to say whether it could have been in the form of a human face, as some of the chain holders of this type have.
Valjala
Pendant, bronze. Rhombus-shaped, ornamented with fluted lines, one end profiled with lines.
Pendant, bronze. Rhombus-shaped, ornamented with fluted lines, one end profiled with lines. Similar to those cross pendants with rhombus-shaped central parts from Siksälä are dated to the 14th-15th century (Valk et al 2014, 79, 103, 197, 298).
Literature:
Valk, H., Ratas, J., Laul, S. 2014. Siksälä kalme II. Matuste ja leidude kataloog. Tartu Ülikool: Tartu.
Lõve/Sakla
Bells, 2, iron. Square-shaped, with a large loop. Probably from the side of the harness. Such finds are common in late prehistoric stone graves.
Bells, 2, iron. Square-shaped, with a large loop. Probably from the side of the harness. Such finds are common in late prehistoric stone graves.
Kalli
Terminal of a pennanular brooch, bronze. Faceted, faces bordered by zigzag lines.
Terminal of a pennanular brooch, bronze. Faceted, faces bordered by zigzag lines.
Literature:
Mägi-Lôugas, M. 1994. Eesti viikingiaegsed hoburaudsôled ja nende ornament. – Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised, Humanitaar- ja Sotsiaalteadused 1994, 43: 4, 465-484.
Kõiguste
Penannular brooch, bronze. Straight-drawn arc, only one rolled terminal left intact. The cross-section of the arch is rhombus-shaped.
Laheküla
Fragment of penannular brooch, bronze. Half arch and irregularly-shaped flat terminal. Medieval or early Modern time.
Laheküla
Fragment of penannular brooch with lily-shaped terminals, bronze.
Fragment of penannular brooch with lily-shaped terminals, bronze. Such brooches are known from medieval inhumations in Couronia, where they are dated from the second half of the 14th century to 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.
