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.
Potsherd.
Mullutu
Penannular brooch with rolled terminals, bronze.
First photo: Jaana Ratas.
Penannular brooch with rolled terminals, bronze.
Literature:
Mägi, M. 2002. At the Crossroads of Space and Time. Graves, Changing Society and Ideology on Saaremaa (Ösel), 9th–13th centuries AD. Tallinn: Ajaloo Instituut, Tallinn/Center of Baltic Studies, Gotland, p. 100. Read the book: here. Look at the drawings of the archaeological excavations: here.
Mägi-Lõugas, M. 1994. Estonian Viking-Age Penannular Brooches and Ornament. (EST: Eesti viikingiaegsed hoburaudsõled ja nende ornament.) – Eesti TA Toim. Humanitaar- ja Sotsiaalteadused 43, 4 (465-484). Read the ENG conclusion (p. 483-483): here.
Dirham, undetermined.
Ice cleat, iron.
Literature:
Arbman, H. 1940. Birka I. Die Gräber. Tafeln. Stockholm, Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien, Taf. 40.
Mullutu
Tanged arrow-head, iron, with sharp oval blade.
Tanged arrow-head, iron, with sharp oval blade.
Literature:
Schiezel, K. 2014. Spurensuche Haithabu. Dokumentation und Chronik 1963-2013. Schlwswig, Wachholtz, 569.
Mägi, M.; Jets, I.; Riiel, R.; Allmäe, R.; Limbo-Simovart, J. 2015. Pre-Viking and early Viking Age sacrifical place at Viidumäe, eastern Saaremaa. – Arheoloogilised välitööd Eestis = Archeological fieldwork in Estonia 2014, 153−162. Read the article: here.
First photo: Jaana Ratas.
Iron crossbow head. Such heads have been found in several medieval castles and in 2012 also from Haapsalu.
Literature:
Griciuvienė, E. (prepared by) 2005. Žiemgaliai. Baltų archeologijos paroda. Katalogas. The Semigallians. Baltic Archaeological Exhibition. Catalogue. Vilnius – Riga, Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus; Latvijas Vēstures muzejs, 202.
Russow, E. & Allmäe, R. 2013. From a suburban pasture to the urban cemetery – recent fieldwork in north-western corner of medieval Haapsalu. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2012, 217-232, fig. 7.
Mullutu
Fragment of a silver finger-ring with widening middle part (?). Parallels mainly in Scandinavia.
Fragment of a silver finger-ring with widening middle part (?). Parallels mainly in Scandinavia.
Literature:
Arbman, H. 1940. Birka I. Die Gräber. Tafeln. Stockholm, Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien, Taf. 111: 6, 8-11.
Thunmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands, II. Typentafeln. Stockholm, Taf. 143: 27 a-b.
Mullutu
Penannular brooch with thickening terminals, bronze. Such brooches were widespread in Couronia.
Photos: Jaana Ratas.
Penannular brooch with thickening terminals, bronze. Such brooches were widespread in Couronia.
Literature:
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. Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus, Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs, Vilnius – Riga, 317, 339.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Octagonal weight, bronze. Such weights can mainly be dated to 850-1000 AD.
Literature:
Gustin, I. 2004. Mellan gåva och marknad. Handel, tillit och materiell Kultur under vikingatid. – Lund Studies in Medieval Archaeology, 34. Malmö, Almqvist & Wiksell, 100-107.
