Pins |
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Introduction
Pins were probably the most common form of cloak fastening in the Viking Age [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:p.30
Pins classed as dress pins could have been used for a number of purposes including fastening cloaks, securing hair styles or as stylus. [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1949.
[OWEN-CROCKER 2004]
Morris makes the point that wooden pins would not have had the strength of pins made from other materials but would have been quicker and easier to make. [MORRIS 2000]:p.2309
Hinton points out that there are 'practically' no small dress items made of precious metals after the C10th [HINTON 2005]:p.166.
Heads
The typology styles 1 to 6 are based on that by Nicola Rogers in [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33. Styles 7 to 11 have been added by the author.
1: Globular (Spherical)
Rogers - Type 1; O'Rahilly - Type a
Archaeology
- England York
- 6 of iron. 2 with pellets attached to the globular heads [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.693-695
- 14 of bone [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1948-1949
- England Flixborough
- 78 of copper alloy [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
- 10 of silver [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.70-72
- 33 of iron. 12 with lead heads, 2 with glass heads, 19 with iron heads [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.74-77
- Scotland Ballinaby, Islay. silver ball headed pin in a woman's grave. [HINTON 2005]:p.124
Discussion
Originate in the early Anglo-Saxon period [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.693. A long lived type – impossible to separate roman from post roman on typology [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1950. The Flixborough examples date from AD 650-1000.
2: Polyhedral
Archaeology
- England York
- 2 of iron [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.693
- 1 of wood [MORRIS 2000]:p.2309
- England Flixbourgh
- 66 of copper alloy [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
- 1 of silver [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.70-72
- 17 of iron [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.74-75
- Ireland, Lagore Crannog, 1 of wood
- Iceland, Hafurbjarnarstađir. 15cm long silver pin. [HAYEUR SMITH 2003]:p.143-175 cst.13667
Discussion
Originate in the middle Anglo-Saxon period [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.693
3: Biconical
Archaeology
- England Flixbourgh
- 79 of copper alloy [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
- 20 of iron [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.76-77
Discussion
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4: Spiral
Archaeology
- England Flixbourgh
- 14 of copper alloy [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
Discussion
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5: Headless
Archaeology
- England York
- York, 2 finds of iron [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.695, Cat.3807,3810
- England Flixbourgh
- 67 of copper alloy [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
Discussion
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6: Flat oval, trapezoid or disk shaped headed
Oval, trapezoid or disk shaped
Archaeology
- England York
- 2 finds of iron with spirally twisted shanks [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.696, cat.3804,3809
- 1 find of bone, disk shaped, late C10th.
- England Flixbourgh
- 18 of copper alloy Types 6 & 7 [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.33
- 1 of silver - disc shaped [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.70-72
Discussion
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7: Flat perforated head
Pins that have perforated heads much in the same manner as a needle but have heads that are deemed to be too large to pass through cloth.
Archaeology
- England York
- 2 finds of iron [OTTAWAY 1992]:p.695 Cat.3808,3812
- 13 of bone, 2 of antler [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1951
Discussion
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8: Linked
Archaeology
- Scotland
- Whithorn, 2 of Copper-alloy [Nicholson & Hill 1997]:p.369 nos.4 & 5
Discussion
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9: Miscellaneous
Archaeology
- -
- -
Discussion
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10: Pig fibulae
...... including pins that have perforated heads much in the same manner as a needle but have heads that are deemed to be too large to pass through cloth.
Archaeology
- England York
- 10 finds of unperforated pig fibulae [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1950
- 61 finds of perforated pig fibulae [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1950
Discussion
Many more could be included from York if bone needles with smaller heads were to be included.
11: Zoomorphic
Archaeology
- England, York, 5 finds, 1 of bone, 4 of unknown. [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1949
- Scotland, Jarlshof. 4 completed bone pins with dragon head aligned to the shaft with open mouths and two part made pins. [MACGREGOR 1985]:p.119[MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1949[HAYEUR SMITH 2003]:p.173.
- Iceland, Ymaberg. Bone, dragon head with open mouth, 16.3cm long [HAYEUR SMITH 2003]:p.173 cat.11296.
- Denmark, Hedeby.
- Frisian
- Scandinavia, 6 finds
- Flixbourgh, 4 of silver [EVANS & LOVELUCK 2009]:p.70-72
Discussion
Dated to the 9th or 10th century but may have continued into the 12th in Sweden [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999]:p.1949.
MacGregor notes that the pins found at Jarlshof must have been made in a local workshop [MACGREGOR 2005:p.119]
12: Shaped
Archaeology
- -
Discussion
- -
13: Large disk
Archaeology
- -
Discussion
- -
14: Wide
Archaeology
- -
Discussion
- -
15: Filigree ball
Archaeology
- England, Kent: Gilton Ash
- Scotland, Ballinaby
- Denmark (old), Thunby-Bienebek [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:cat.207
- Denmark (old), Hedeby
Discussion
- -
Shanks
Introduction
Many pins have been excavated with a bend in the shank. Halpin has put forth the theory that this may be a deliberate feature and may has assisted the pin in keeping two pieces of cloth together.
Round
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Round with a Swelling
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Round with a Square Section
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Square
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References