Database

Finger-ring with a widening central part, silver. Similar rings have been found in the Eura Luistari and Saramäki burials in Finland where they are dated to the 11th century (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 124–126) and from Abelnieki burials in Latvia, where they are dated from the second half of the 11th century to the beginning of the 13th century (Vasks 2008, 157–158). These rings also occur in Gotland, where they are dated to the 11th-12th century in Gotland (Thunmark-Nylen 1998, Pl. 143). In Saaremaa, a similar finger-ring is recorded in Valjala churchyard where it, according to the context, belongs to the 13th or perhaps late 12th century.

Literature:

Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.

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. Gotland University College, Centre for Baltic Studies; Institute of History, Department of Archaeology. Tallinn, 2002. Read the book: here. Look at the drawings of the archaeological excavations: here.

Thunmark-Nylen, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands. II. Typentafeln. Almqvist & Wiksell, Stockholm.

Thunmark-Nylen, L. 2006. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands. I. Abbildungen der Grabfunde. Almqvist & Wiksell, Stockholm.

Vasks, A. 2008. Kurši padurē? – Pētījumi Kuršu Senatnē. Rakstu Krājums. Latvijas Nacionālā Vēstures Muzeja Raksti, 14, 153–166.

Photo: Jaana Ratas.

Finger-ring with double-spiral ends, bronze. It is predominantly local type Estonian ornament, but sometimes also recorded in neighboring areas.

Read more:

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. 108. Read the book: here. Look at the drawings of the archaeological excavations: here.

Spur, iron. The type with the spiked disc. The preserved shape of the spur suggests that it dates to 1300-1340 AD (Ellis 2004, 137-138).

Literature:

Ellis, M. A. 2004. Spurs and spur-fittings. – The Medieval Horse and its Equipment c. 1150-c. 1450). Ed. By J. Clark, J. Boydell Press.

Belt chain, bronze. It is composed of 68 larger rings connected by mainly cubic-shaped distributers. The rings are ±3 cm in diameter, some have spirals slided upon them. From the rings hang 12 small spherical and four-pronged beads and a cross-pin, attached with 7 cm long chains. The cross-shaped pendant belongs to the same type as those found at Varbola hillfort, and from the inhumation cemetery at Kaberla (Kurisoo 2013, fig. 23:59), and most recently in Saaremaa at the Mullutu harbour site (Mägi 2021). It belongs to the 13th century. At one end of the belt was a flat buckle with a rounded front.

The total length of the belt chain is 2.41 m. Similar belt chains have been found in several 13th-century inhumations, in Saaremaa especially in the graves near the Valjala church (Mägi et al 2019).

Kirjandus:

Kurisoo, T. 2013. Hilisrauaaegsed ristripatsid ja ristimärgiga rinnalehed Eestis. Magistritöö. Tartu.

Mägi, M. 2021. Viking Age and Medieval harbour site at Mullutu in southern Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2020. Tallinn: Muinsuskaitseamet, 107-120.

Mägi, M.; Malve, M. & Toome, T. 2019. Early Christian burials at Valjala churchyard, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 93−118.

Iron crossbow head. Such heads have been found in several medieval castles and in 2012 also from Haapsalu (Russow & Allmäe 2013). Mäesalu has dated such crossbow-heads in Estonia to the first half of the 13th century due to some finds in hill-forts, what he associates with sieges known from written sources (Mäesalu 1991, 174-175). Such crossbow-heads in Latvia have been dated to the second half of the 13th century and the first half of the 14th century (Mugurēvičs 2008, 192, 202, Griciuvienė 2005, 202), in Russia to the 13th-15th century (Medvedev 1966, 116, Pl 31: 28).

Literature:

Медведев А.Ф. 1966. Ручное метательное оружие (Лук и стрелы, самострел). VIII–XIV вв. М.: Наука6.

Mäesalu, A. 1991. Otepää linnuse ammunooleotsad. Eds. L. Jaanits & V. Lang. (Muinasaja teadus, 1). Agu, Tallinn.

Griciuvienė, E. (prepared by) 2005. Žiemgaliai. Baltų archeologijos paroda. Katalogas. The Semigallians. Baltic Archaeological Exhibition. Catalogue. Vilnius – Riga, Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus; Latvijas Vēstures muzejs.

Mugurēvičs, Ē. 2008. Viduslaiku ciems un pils Salaspils novadā. Rīga, 112, 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.

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.  Compare with similar ones e g at Varbola hillfort (e g AI 3864: 1, 5299: 23, 305). 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:

Mugurēvičs, Ē. 2008. Viduslaiku ciems un pils Salaspils novadā. Rīga, 112, 202.

Mäesalu, A. 1991. Otepää linnuse ammunooleotsad. – Eds. L. Jaanits & V. Lang. Muinasaja teadus, 1. Agu, Tallinn. 

Arrowhead (?), iron. The tip of the blade is flat, but the neck has a square cross-section (side of the square is 6-7 mm) and the tip appears to be pointed.