Difference between revisions of "Pins"

Revision as of 21:14, 30 August 2012

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.

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 and ROGERS 1999: p.1949].
[OWEN-CROCKER 2004]
Morris [MORRIS 2000:p.2309] 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.

Materials

Iron

More than found in the archaeological record

Copper Alloy

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Bone

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Silver

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Gilded

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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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Heads

The typology styles 1 to 6 are based on that by Nicola Rogers in (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33). Styles 7 to 11 have been added by the author.

1: Globular (Spherical)

Archaeology

• England York
  • 6 of iron. 2 with pellets attached to the globular heads (OTTAWAY 1992, p.693-695)
  • 14 of bone (MacGREGOR, MAINMAN and ROGERS 1999, p.1948-1949)
• England Flixbourgh
  • 78 of copper alloy (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33)
  • 10 of silver (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.70-72)
  • 33 of iron. 12 with lead heads, 2 with glass heads, 19 with iron heads (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.74-77)
• Scotland Ballinaby, Islay. silver ball headed pin in a woman's grave. [Hinton 2006: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 and ROGERS, Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn from Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York 1999, p.1950). The Flixbourgh examples date from 650-1000AD.

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 and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33)
  • 1 of silver (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.70-72)
  • 17 of iron (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.74-75)
• Ireland, Lagore Crannog, 1 of wood
• Iceland, Hafurbjarnarstađir. 15cm long silver pin. [HAYER 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 and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33)
  • 20 of iron (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.76-77)

Discussion
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4: Spiral

Archaeology

• England Flixbourgh
  • 14 of copper alloy (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33)

Discussion
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4: Headless

Archaeology

• England York
  • York, 2 finds of iron (OTTAWAY 1992, p.695: 3807,3810)
• England Flixbourgh
  • 67 of copper alloy (EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009, p.33)

Discussion
--

9: Zoomorphic

Archaeology

• England, York, 5 finds, 1 of bone, 4 of unknown. [MacGREGOR, MAINMAN and ROGERS 1999: p.1949]
• Scotland, Jarlshof. dragon head with open mouth. [MacGREGOR, MAINMAN and ROGERS 1999: p.1949][Hayer Smith p.173]
• Iceland, Ymaberg. Bone, dragon head with open mouth, 16.3cm long [HAYER SMITH 2003:p.173 cat.11296].
• Denmark, Hedeby.
• Frisian
• Scandinavia, 6 finds
• Flixbourgh, 4 of silver [EVANS and LOVELUCK 2009: p.70-72]

Discussion
Dated to the 9th or 10th century but may have continued into the 12th in Sweden [MacGREGOR, MAINMAN and ROGERS 1999: p.1949].