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.
Viltina
Neck ring, with two twisted rings, connected with a hook and a loop, copper alloy.
Neck ring, with two twisted rings, connected with a hook and a loop, copper alloy. Such neck-rings have been found in inhumation graves (e.g. in Loona, Valjala; Mägi 2002, Pl. 98: 1; Mägi et al 2019, 97), but also in 13th-century hoards and deposits (e. g. Muhu, Lõhavere). Fragments of perhaps similar neck-rings have been also recorded in stone graves with cremations. Presumably appeared in the end of the 12th century.
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.) Estonian Academy of Sciences, Institute of History, Tallinn / Gotland University College, Centre for Baltic Studies, Gotland.
Mägi, M.; Malve, M. & Toome, T. 2019. Early Christian burials at Valjala churchyard, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 93−118.
Viltina
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy.
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy. Neck rings made of several twisted wires date back to the 12th–13th century and are one of the most common types of neck rings in the archaeological material of Saaremaa (Mägi 2002, 107). In Latvia, especially eastern Latvia, neck rings made of several twisted wires that had looped ends were worn already during the 11th–12th century (Zariņa 2006, 246).
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.) Tallinn.
Zariņa, A. 2006. Salaspils Laukskolas kapulauks 10.–13. gadsimts. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Apgāds.
Viltina
Fragments of a neck ring, 3, copper alloy.
Fragments of a neck ring, 3, copper alloy. Fragments of neck rings made of several twisted wires are common finds in Saaremaa stone graves with cremations. Since it is normally not possible to determine the exact type of these neck-rings, they can be dated to the whole period from the 10th to the 13th century (see also: Mägi 2002, 107).
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.) Tallinn.
Viltina
Fragments of a neck ring, 2, copper alloy.
Fragments of a neck ring, 2, copper alloy. Fragments of neck rings made of several twisted wires are common finds in Saaremaa stone graves with cremations. Since it is normally not possible to determine the exact type of these neck-rings, they can be dated to the whole period from the 10th to the 13th century (see also: Mägi 2002, 107).
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.) Tallinn.
Viltina
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy.
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy. Fragments of neck rings made of several twisted wires are common finds in Saaremaa stone graves with cremations. Since it is normally not possible to determine the exact type of these neck-rings, they can be dated to the whole period from the 10th to the 13th century (see also: Mägi 2002, 107).
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.) Tallinn.
Viltina
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy.
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy. Fragments of neck rings made of several twisted wires are common finds in Saaremaa stone graves with cremations. Since it is normally not possible to determine the exact type of these neck-rings, they can be dated to the whole period from the 10th to the 13th century (see also: Mägi 2002, 107).
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.) Tallinn.
Viltina
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy.
Viltina
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy.
Fragment of a neck ring, copper alloy. Composite neck rings are usually assembled from three separate rings, using copper alloy clasps. This type of neck ring has only been found on Saaremaa (Mägi 2002, 107; 2019, 73). Similar finds have been obtained from Kurzeme, and they were also worn by Semigallians in the 10th–11th centuries (Tvauri 2014, 144; Griciuvienė 2005, 76-77).
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.) Estonian Academy of Sciences, Institute of History, Tallinn / Gotland University College, Centre for Baltic Studies, Gotland.
Mägi, M. 2019. Late Viking Age burial place and ritual deposits at Lööne, Saaremaa. – Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2018, 67–78.
Tvauri, A. 2014. Rahvasterännuaeg, eelviikingiaeg ja viikingiaeg Eestis. Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus. Tartu.
Griciuvienė, E. (prepared by) 2005. Žiemgaliai. Baltų archeologijos paroda. Katalogas. The Semigallians. Baltic Archaeological Exhibition. Catalogue. Vilnius – Riga, Lietuvos nacionalis muziejus; Latvijas Vēstures muzejs.
Viltina
Neck ring fragment, with two twisted rings, connected with a hook and a loop, copper alloy.
Neck ring, with two twisted rings, connected with a hook and a loop, copper alloy. Such neck-rings have been found in inhumation graves (e.g. in Loona, Valjala; Mägi 2002, Pl. 98: 1; Mägi et al 2019, 97), but also in 13th-century hoards and deposits (e. g. Muhu, Lõhavere). Fragments of perhaps similar neck-rings have been also recorded in stone graves with cremations. Presumably appeared in the end of the 12th century.
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.) Tallinn.
