Amulets |
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Amulets are classed as protective items and usually are in the shape of a specific object.
Pendants may or may not be protective items and are generally more stylistic or are items that have been repurposed.
Thor's Hammers
Valkyrie and other Human Amulets
Miniature Weapons
Miniature axes
Archaeology
Discussion
Miniature spears
Archaeology
Discussion
Miniature swords
Archaeology
Discussion
Other animal figurines
Archaeology
Discussion
Snake figurines (V/F)
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]:p.37-39
- England, 1 find of jet
- Ireland, 3 finds, 2 of wood, 1 of stone
- Denmark, 4 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 2 of silver, 1 unknown, 1 from a woman’s grave
- Norway, 4 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 1 of silver, 1 of gold, 1 of jet, 3 from women’s graves
- Sweden, 3 finds of silver, 2 found in women’s graves
Discussion
Miniature shields (V/F)
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]:p.49-51
- Denmark, 23 finds, 11 of copper alloy,11 of silver, 1 of unknown
- Norway, 2 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 1 of silver, 1 from a woman’s grave
- Norway, Hedmark: Flagstad Parish Universitetsmuseene
- Scania (Sweden), 4 finds of silver
- Sweden, 38 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 37 of silver, 18 from women’s grave
- Gotland (Sweden), 6 finds, 3 of copper alloy, 3 of silver [ARWIDSSON 1989: p.9-18]
- Russia, 7 finds
- Arland (Finland), 1 find
Discussion
Arwidsson has described the finds from Birka: 16 were found all of silver. 15 from women’s graves and one from a child’s grave. Dated to the mid C10th to mid C11th. 8 were found between oval brooches and 5 as part of bead necklaces. They seem to be a Swedish / Danish item and are interpreted as symbolic miniature shields always with a clockwise whorl. Some even have signs that the makers have tried to incorporate a shield grip on the reverse. [ARWIDSSON 1989: p.9-18] [ARBMAN 1940]:pl.97
Bowls, sieves and spoons
Bowls (V/F)
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]
- Denmark, 2 finds of silver, 1 from a woman’s grave
- Norway, 8 finds of gold all from Hoen hoard
- Sweden, 12 finds, 10 of silver, 2 of lead, 9 from women’s graves
- Gotland, 2 finds of silver
Discussion
Sieves
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]
- Norway, 4 finds, 3 of gold from the Hoen hoard, 1 of silver
- Sweden, 1 find of silver
- Gotland, 5 finds, 2 of copper alloy, 3 of silver
Discussion
Spoons
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]
- Gotland, 2 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 1 of silver
Discussion
Chairs (V)
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]:p.58-61
- Denmark, 4 finds of silver, 2 found in woman’s graves, C10th
- Gravlev sogn. Silver, Hoard [JENSEN 2010]:cat.115
- Bornholms amt. Silver, Hoards [JENSEN 2010]:cat.181
- Års sogn. Silver, Hoard [JENSEN 2010]:cat.206
- Nørre Onsild sogn. Silver, Woman's grave. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.207
- Germany
- Hedeby. Silver, grave. [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat. 187
- Gotland, 6 finds, 2 of copper alloy, 2 of silver, 2 of amber, 1 from a male grave, c.1000AD
- Fölhagen, Björke. SHM 3547. Silver, Hoard. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.465 [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.143 [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:cat.521 [WOV 2003]:cat.753
- Fölhagen, Björke. SHM 3547. Silver, Hoard. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1377 [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.143
- Hellvi. SHM 22917. Amber, grave. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.499
- Grötlingbo. SHM 32181. Amber, grave. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1629 Found in head region. Bhr 1966:08. [RUNDKVIST 2003]:p.186
- Hejnum. SHM 876. Copper Alloy, grave. Lost? [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1410
- Sanda. SHM 21187. Copper Alloy, stray. Part of an amulet set of a horse, sword, spear, chair & shield. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1846
- Sweden, 5 finds, 4 of silver, 3 from women’s graves, c.750-975AD
- Edsberg. Silver, hoard [JENSEN 2010]:cat.570
- Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.968 [JENSEN 2010]:cat.847 [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:cat.520 [WOV 2003]:cat.5288 [ARBMAN 1940]:Taf.92.14 (SHM Online) (Birka Burials Online)
- Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.844 [JENSEN 2010]:cat.829 (Birka Burials Online)
- Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.632. Part of a Treasure Necklace. [JENSEN 2010]:cat.798 (Birka Burials Online)
- Langlöt. Amber, grave [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1331
Discussion
Miniature wheels (V)
Silver or copper alloy
Archaeology
[JENSEN 2010]:p.63
- Denmark, 4 finds of copper alloy, 750-1100AD
- Skane, 1 find of silver, C10th
- Norway, 2 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 1 of silver, C10th
- Sweden, 3 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 2 of silver, 2 found in women’s graves, 750-975AD
Discussion
Dated by Jensen to 900-950AD. [JENSEN 2010]:p.63
Capsules and “scare-men”
Archaeology
Discussion
Staff-rings
Archaeology
Discussion
Miniature sickles and scythes
Archaeology
Discussion
Crosses
Strike-a-lights
Archaeology
Discussion
[ROESDAHL & WILSON: 1992]
Legs
Lunulae
Archaeology
Discussion
Anchors
Shaped as an anchor. All are made from lead.
Archaeology
- 10 from Hedeby, unknown date but must be between 806-1066AD
- 1 from York, after 860AD
Discussion
Jensen makes a case for this style of pendent being a Hedeby local tradition. [JENSEN 2010]
Reference