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
Fragment of a wooden artefact.
Valjala hillfort
M-type iron axe, found from the well.
M-type iron axe, found from the well. Similar to Petersen´s Type M axe, but the later variant that in Latvia is dated to the 13th-14th century (Mugurēvičs 2008, 201; Brūzis 2016, 189).
Literature:
Mugurēvičs, Ē. 2008. Viduslaiku ciems un pils Salaspils novadā. Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds.
Brūzis R. 2016. Tuvcīņas ieroči Latvijā 14.–16. gadsimtā. Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds.
Valjala hillfort
Nail/rivet, found from the well where it was attached in a piece of wood.
Valjala hillfort
Spindle whorl, the artefact is most likely lost.
Knife.
Literature:
Peets, J. 2003. The power of iron. – Muinasaja teadus, 12. Tallinn, 245.
Valjala hillfort
Crossbow bolt, iron. Crossbow bolt with a pyramid-shaped tip. The bolt has a wider part at the base, just before the socket.
Crossbow bolt, iron. Crossbow bolt with a pyramid-shaped tip. The bolt has a wider part at the base, just before the socket. Mäesalu´s type A I Crossbow were taken into use in the Eastern Baltic as early as in the end of the 12th century, but heads of such type are in Estonia dated mainly to the first half of the 13th century (Mäesalu 1991). In Latvia they are datef from the end of the 12th century to the early 14th century (Mugurēvičs 2008, 202).
Literature:
Mäesalu, A. 1991. Otepää linnuse ammunooleotsad. Eds. L. Jaanits & V. Lang. (Muinasaja teadus, 1). Agu, Tallinn.
Mugurēvičs, Ē. 2008. Viduslaiku ciems un pils Salaspils novadā. Rīga, 112, 202.
Valjala hillfort
Iron artefact, the end link of a big chain.
Valjala hillfort
Fragment of a wooden artefact, found from the well.
Valjala hillfort
Nail/rivet. Found from the well, where it was attached to a piece of wood.
