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; 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.
Knob-ended strap end, copper alloy. This is a relatively common type in the stone graves of Saaremaa. In Couronia, such strap ends are known from burials dated to the 12th century or the first half of the 13th century (Griciuvienė 2009, 356–357). They do not occur in 13th-century inhumation burials in Estonia.
Griciuvienė, E. (prepared by) 2009. Kuršiai. Genties kultūra laidosenos duomenimis. Baltų archeologijos paroda. Katalogas. The Curonians. Tribe Culture According to the Burial Data. Baltic Archaeological Exhibition. Catalogue. Vilnius – Riga, Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus; Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs.
Loop-ended strap end, copper alloy. Such strap ends occur in 10th–11th century burials in Gotland, especially at the Kopparsvik cemetery, and in Livonian burials from the second half of the 11th century or the first half of the 12th century (e.g., Thunmark-Nylén 1995, figs. 345, 359, 363, 370 etc.; Zariņa 2006, 236).
Thunmark-Nylén, L. 1995. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands I. Abbildungen der Grabfunde. Stockholm.
Square belt mount, copper alloy. These belt mounts were widespread over a long time.
Square belt mount, copper alloy. These belt mounts were widespread over a long time.
Belt mount, copper alloy. In Saaremaa Island, such round belt mounts with embossed bulges on the edges have been found in stone graves with cremations, e.g. in Käku, Randvere and Rahu cemeteries (Mägi 2002, 98) but also from mainland Estonian sites (Mandel 2017, 36, 154). In Estonia, such mounts have been dated mainly to the 11th–12th centuries but in Gotland they occur in find complexes dated to as early as the 10th century (Mägi 2002, 98; Mandel 2017, 36).
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.) Visby University Colleague, Institute of History, Tallinn.
