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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle with animal style belt mount, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Belt mount with stylized animal head, copper alloy. Such belt mounts were widespread in the coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia and Finland (Jets 2012, 166-178). Most of them date to the 11th-12th centuries, but the earliest ones may have appeared as early as in the late 10th century. Some similar belt mounts have been found in 13th-century inhumation graves, but there they are probably older than the rest of grave goods (e. g. Mandel 2017, 39, tahv. X).
Jets, I. 2012. Scandinavian Late Viking Age art styles as a part of the visual display of warriors in 11th century Estonia. – Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 16: 2, 118–139.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
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
Two-part buckle with rectangular-shaped front part, copper alloy.
Two-part buckle with rectangular-shaped front part, copper alloy. Unusual type.
Viltina
The needle of the buckle, copper alloy.
Viltina
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Late variant that can be found in 13th-century inhumation graves, e g in Pada, North-Estonia, but also in Rahu stone grave in Saaremaa (Mägi 2002, tahv. 70).
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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle with animal style belt mount, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Later variant that probably dates mainly to the 12th century. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Belt mount with stylized animal head, copper alloy. Such belt mounts were widespread in the coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia and Finland (Jets 2012, 166-178). Most of them date to the 11th-12th centuries, but the earliest ones may have appeared as early as in the late 10th century. Some similar belt mounts have been found in 13th-century inhumation graves, but there they are probably older than the rest of grave goods (e. g. Mandel 2017, 39, tahv. X).
Jets, I. 2012. Scandinavian Late Viking Age art styles as a part of the visual display of warriors in 11th century Estonia. – Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 16: 2, 118–139.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
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
Gotland-Baltic type buckle with animal style belt mount, copper alloy.
Gotland-Baltic type buckle, copper alloy. Previously the buckle type was believed to have developed in Gotland. Later data, however, shows that the buckle form could originate from the Baltics after which it was adapted in Gotland (Lehtsalo-Hilander 1982, 149–151; Mägi 2002, 97; for Gotlandic material see Thunmark-Nylen 1992, Pl. 127–129). The earliest buckles of this type belong to the second half of the 10th century, but the latest variants can also be found in the 13th-century inhumation graves (e.g. Zariņa 2006, 233-237). This specimen is probably the earlier variant.
Belt mount with stylized animal head, copper alloy. Such belt mounts were widespread in the coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia and Finland (Jets 2012, 166-178). Most of them date to the 11th-12th centuries, but the earliest ones may have appeared as early as in the late 10th century. Some similar belt mounts have been found in 13th-century inhumation graves, but there they are probably older than the rest of grave goods (e. g. Mandel 2017, 39, tahv. X).
Jets, I. 2012. Scandinavian Late Viking Age art styles as a part of the visual display of warriors in 11th century Estonia. – Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 16: 2, 118–139.
Lehtsalo-Hilander, P.-L. 1982. Luistari II: The Artefacts. SMYA 82: 2. Helsinki.
Thynmark-Nylén, L. 1998. Die Wikingerzeit Gotlands II, Typentafeln. Stockholm: Kungl.Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien.
Mandel, M. 2017. Maidla muinaskalmistu saladused. Eesti Ajaloomuuseum, Tallinn.
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.
