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!
Crossbow brooch, bronze and iron. Only a small part of the spiral axis has been preserved. The arc has a flat cross-section and the needle store has been cast.
Last picture: Jaana Ratas
Crossbow brooch, bronze and iron. Only a small part of the spiral axis has been preserved. The arc has a flat cross-section and the needle store has been cast. Although brooches with casted foot became common in Estonia already in the 3rd century AD, this particular brooch may be from the period at the end of the 4th century up until the 6th century. (Rohtla 2005, 127 jj).
Literature:
Rohtla, M.-L. 2005. Crossbow fibula as a reflection of social status and relations. – Culture and Material Culture. – Interarchaeologia, 1. Ed. by V. Lang. Tartu – Riga – Vilnius, 121–145.
Iron rod, one tip is sharp. Perhaps the shaft of a pin?
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Iron rod, one tip is sharp. Perhaps the shaft of a pin?
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Bead. Blue glass and spherically shaped.
Photo: Jaana Ratas.
Bead. Blue glass and spherically shaped.
Artefact fragment, iron.
Fragment of bronze plate.
Chain fragment, iron, 4 links.
Chain fragment, iron, 4 links.
Artefact fragment, bronze. From a brooch or a pin.
Artefact fragment, bronze. From a brooch or a pin.
Fragment of artefact, bronze. Higher loop for a belt to pass through. The longer part is decorated with long lines. The tip turns downwards at a perpendicular angle and ends with an oval plate that is situated crosswise to the rest of the artefact. On both parts of the plate, there has been a small bronze rivet, and one of these is snapped. It has been attached to either a wooden or leather object, e. g. a belt or a sword scabbard.
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Parallels:
Similar mounts on the officer belts from Nydam (Jørgensen & Petersen 2003, 267, figs. 8, 9, fragments; photo National Museum/ John Lee).
Fragment of artefact, bronze. Higher loop for a belt to pass through. The longer part is decorated with long lines. The tip turns downwards at a perpendicular angle and ends with an oval plate that is situated crosswise to the rest of the artefact. On both parts of the plate, there has been a small bronze rivet, and one of these is snapped. It has been attached to either a wooden or leather object, e. g. a belt or a sword scabbard. Possibly from the same belt or from one of the belts from which Ure propeller-shaped fittings come (Jørgensen & Petersen 2003, 267).
Literature:
Jørgensen, E. & Petersen, P. V. 2003. Nydam mose – nye fund og iagttagelser. – Sejrens triumf. Norden i skyggen af det romerske imperium. Ed. by L. Jørgensen, B. Storgaard & L. Gebauer Thomsen. København, 258–294.
The negative value refers to time Before Christ.