Amulets

Amulets
Amulet Typology
Necklaces
► Necklace Images   Amulets   Pendants   Thor's Hammers   Valkyrie and other Human Amulets

Amulet Typology
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This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Jensen, Bo (2010) Viking Age Amulets in Scandinavia and Western Europe.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR S2169

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Jensen, Bo (2010) Viking Age Amulets in Scandinavia and Western Europe.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR S2169

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

See main article: Thor's Hammers

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  England, Cuerdale

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  England, Norwich

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  England, Norwich

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  Norway

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  Sweden

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  England, Norwich

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  England, Norwich

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  Denmark, Hedeby

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  Denmark, Hedeby

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Valkyrie and other Human Amulets

Valkyrie and other Human Amulets

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Miniature Weapons

Miniature axes

Archaeology
Discussion

Miniature spears

Archaeology
Discussion

Miniature swords

Archaeology
Discussion

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Other animal figurines

Archaeology
Discussion

Snake figurines (V/F)

Archaeology

• 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

• 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]

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  Birka Gr.954

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  Birka Gr.817

Bowls, sieves and spoons

Bowls (V/F)

Archaeology

• 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

• 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

• Gotland, 2 finds, 1 of copper alloy, 1 of silver

Discussion

Chairs (V)

Archaeology

• Denmark, 4 finds of silver, 2 found in woman’s graves, C10th
  • Gravlev sogn. Silver, Hoard
  • Bornholms amt. Silver, Hoards
  • Års sogn. Silver, Hoard
  • Nørre Onsild sogn. Silver, Woman's grave.
• Germany
  • Hedeby. Silver, grave.
• 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.
  • Fölhagen, Björke. SHM 3547. Silver, Hoard.
  • Hellvi. SHM 22917. Amber, grave.
  • Grötlingbo. SHM 32181. Amber, grave. Found in head region. Bhr 1966:08.
  • Hejnum. SHM 876. Copper Alloy, grave. Lost?
  • Sanda. SHM 21187. Copper Alloy, stray. Part of an amulet set of a horse, sword, spear, chair & shield.
• Sweden, 5 finds, 4 of silver, 3 from women’s graves, c.750-975AD
  • Edsberg. Silver, hoard
  • Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.968 (SHM Online) (Birka Burials Online)
  • Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.844 (Birka Burials Online)
  • Birka. SHM 34000. Silver, grave Bj.632. Part of a Treasure Necklace. (Birka Burials Online)
  • Langlöt. Amber, grave

Discussion

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Miniature wheels (V)

Silver or copper alloy
Archaeology

• 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.

Capsules and “scare-men”

Archaeology
Discussion

Staff-rings

Archaeology
Discussion

Miniature sickles and scythes

Archaeology
Discussion

Crosses

Archaeology
Discussion

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Strike-a-lights

Archaeology
Discussion
[ROESDAHL & WILSON: 1992]

Legs

Archaeology
Discussion

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  Denmark, Hedeby

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.

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Reference

Arbman, Holger (1940) Birka 1 Die Graber: Tafeln. [The Graves: Plates] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien *

Graham-Campbell, James (ed.) (1980) Viking Artefacts, A Select Catalogue. British Museum Publications *

Jensen, Bo (2010) Viking Age Amulets in Scandinavia and Western Europe.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR S2169 *

Portable Antiquities Scheme http://finds.org.uk ^[PAS] *

Roesdahl, Else, and Wilson, David M. (eds.) (1992) From Viking to Crusader, The Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200. Nordic Council of Ministers. *

*

Council of Europe (2003) World of the Vikings. CD-ROM. Alive Learning Ltd. *