Difference between revisions of "Thor's Hammers"

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{{Stars2|Category = Necklaces|Typology = Amulets|TypologyFile = Amulets.png}}
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{{Stars2|Category = Necklaces|Typology = Amulet Typology|TypologyFile = Amulets.png}}
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{{Necklace}}
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{{MajorRef|Jensen 2010}}
  
 
''A pendant roughly shaped like a hammer. Usually worn with the hammer head suspended downwards. ''<br>
 
''A pendant roughly shaped like a hammer. Usually worn with the hammer head suspended downwards. ''<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
Depictions of Thor’s hammers can be seen on Viking rune stones. They are usually cast but can be cut from sheet, formed from hammered rod or soldered together from chased sheet-silver. Thor’s hammers can be broken into three categories, plain, punch worked or filigree. (ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992, p.190)<br>
+
Depictions of Thor’s hammers can be seen on Viking rune stones. They are usually cast but can be cut from sheet, formed from hammered rod or soldered together from chased sheet-silver. Thor’s hammers can be broken into three categories, plain, punch worked or filigree. [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992: p.190]<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
Line 13: Line 15:
  
 
===Loose===
 
===Loose===
C9th & C10th<br>
+
''Staecker Type 1.1'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker 800s - 900s.<br>
 +
<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
* England, 1
 
* England, 1
Line 25: Line 29:
  
 
===Thor’s hammer rings===
 
===Thor’s hammer rings===
 
+
Earliest find 750AD. 800s - 1000s with most from the 900s.[JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
*Scotland, 1 find
 
*Scotland, 1 find
Line 37: Line 42:
 
Unfortunately Jensen does not supply any information regarding the number of silver Thor’s hammers that fall into Staecker four sub categories. <br>
 
Unfortunately Jensen does not supply any information regarding the number of silver Thor’s hammers that fall into Staecker four sub categories. <br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
*England, 12
+
*England, 15
 +
**Yorkshire, Leconfield. Ornamented with stamped circles (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010:cat.436]
 +
**Yorkshire, Wetwang (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010:cat.1403]
 +
**Yorkshire, Harrogate. Plain. Found in 2009. [PAS:cat.SWYOR-489283]
 +
**Derbyshire, St. Wigstan's. Grave find [JENSEN 2010:cat.427]
 +
**Lancashire, Cuerdale. (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010:cat.425]
 +
**Leicestershire, Swithland. Stamped ornament of squares (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010:cat.415] [PAS:cat.LEIC-185125]
 +
**Lincolnshire, West Lindsey. plain  [PAS:cat.DENO-BD00C3]
 +
**Essex. Crude loop, plain (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010:cat.413]
 +
**Norfolk, South Lopham. Stray find. (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010:cat.418]
 +
**Norfolk, Surlinham. Stray find. [MARGESON 1997: 14] (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010:cat.419]
 +
**Norfolk, Great Witchingham. With a gold insert. Stray find. (Staecker type None) [JENSEN 2010:cat.422]
 +
**Norfolk. With possible gold foil. Stray find. (Staecker type None) [JENSEN 2010:cat.423]
 +
**Norfolk, Sibton. Stray find. [MARGESON 1997: 14] (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010:cat.424]
 +
**Norfolk, Kings Lynn. Found in 2008? [PAS:cat.NMS-A9E816]
 +
**London. Engraved X and lines (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010:cat.411]
 +
Jensen mentions a couple of other finds, one from Cumbria cat.435 and another from an unknown location. He considers both of these to be modern replicas.<br>
 +
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/473580
 
*Denmark, 25
 
*Denmark, 25
 
*Iceland, 1
 
*Iceland, 1
Line 45: Line 67:
  
 
===... silver, without ornaments===
 
===... silver, without ornaments===
 +
''Staecker Type 1.5'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker 800s - 1000s with most coming from the 900s
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
File:R679.jpg
+
Ha85.jpg|England, Cuerdale
 +
Norwich-Thors Hammer-3.JPG|England, Norwich
 +
Norwich-Thors Hammer-4-7.JPG|England, Norwich
 +
R679.jpg|Norway
 +
M624.JPG|Sweden
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 
===... silver with stamped ornaments===
 
===... silver with stamped ornaments===
 +
''Staecker Type 2.1.1'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker 900s - 1000s.
 +
<gallery>
 +
Norwich-Thors Hammer-1.JPG|England, Norwich
 +
Norwich-Thors Hammer-2.JPG|England, Norwich
 +
Hedeby Thors hammer.JPG|Denmark, Hedeby
 +
M626.jpg
 +
 +
</gallery>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 
===... silver with vegetable patterns===
 
===... silver with vegetable patterns===
 +
''Staecker Type 2.2'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker 900s - 1000s.
 +
<gallery>
 +
M627.jpg
 +
M628a.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 
===... pressed silver foil===
 
===... pressed silver foil===
 +
''Staecker Type 2.3'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker 900s and probably the 1000s
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
==... of Other Materials==
 
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
===... of amber===
+
==Thor's Hammers of Other Materials==
C10th (but most examples cannot be dated)<br>
+
 
 +
===... amber===
 +
''Staecker Type 1.2'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker to the C10th (but most examples cannot be dated)<br>
 +
<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
*Denmark, 9 finds
 
*Denmark, 9 finds
Line 70: Line 118:
 
*Gotland, 2 finds
 
*Gotland, 2 finds
 
'''Discussion'''<br>
 
'''Discussion'''<br>
 +
<gallery>
 +
Hedeby Amber Thors hammer.JPG|Hedeby
 +
</gallery>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 
+
===... copper alloy===
===... of copper alloy===
+
''Staecker Type 1.3'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 
+
Dated by Staecker 700s - 800s. (He also mentions finds from the 'late Viking Age')<br>
 +
<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
*England, 4 finds
 
*England, 4 finds
 +
** Bishopstone, Sussex. Copper alloy, Settlement find [THOMAS 2010:p.106-108 fig.3].
 +
** Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010:cat.456]
 +
** Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010:cat.457]
 +
** Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010:cat.463]
 +
** Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010:cat.454]
 
*Denmark, 12 finds
 
*Denmark, 12 finds
 
*Sweden, 2 finds
 
*Sweden, 2 finds
 
*Gotland, 1 find
 
*Gotland, 1 find
 
'''Discussion'''<br>
 
'''Discussion'''<br>
 +
Jensen excludes the 4 finds from Kent from his catalog as his does not consider these to be connected to Scandinavian culture [JENSEN 2010:database entry description].<br>
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
===... of lead===
+
===... lead===
 +
''Staecker Type 1.4'' [JENSEN 2010:p.72]<br>
 +
Dated by Staecker to no later than the 1000s.<br>
 +
<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
*England, 2 finds
 
*England, 2 finds
Line 91: Line 152:
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
===... of gold===
+
===... gold===
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
'''Archaeology'''<br>
 
*Denmark, 1 find
 
*Denmark, 1 find
Line 97: Line 158:
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
 +
==Reference==
 +
{{Ref|Arwidsson 1984}}
 +
{{Ref|Jensen 2010}}
 +
{{Ref|Margeson 1997}}
 +
{{Ref|PAS}}
 +
{{Ref|Roesdahl & Wilson 1992}}
 +
{{Ref|Thomas 2010}}
  
 
==Reference==
 
<nocite>
 
ARWIDSSON1984
 
JENSEN2010
 
ROESDAHL1992
 
</nocite>
 
<biblio force=false>#[[Template:Bib]]</biblio>
 
 
<HarvardReferences />
 
<HarvardReferences />
 
[[Category:Necklaces]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:23, 17 December 2016

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Viking Age Compendium articles on Necklaces:
VA Necklace Thor.JPG
Thor's Hammers
Viking Age Compendium articles on Necklaces:
VA Necklace Thor.JPG
Thor's Hammers

A pendant roughly shaped like a hammer. Usually worn with the hammer head suspended downwards.

Depictions of Thor’s hammers can be seen on Viking rune stones. They are usually cast but can be cut from sheet, formed from hammered rod or soldered together from chased sheet-silver. Thor’s hammers can be broken into three categories, plain, punch worked or filigree. [ROESDAHL and WILSON 1992: p.190]

Types of Thor’s hammers

The following style types are those devised by Staecker as listed by Jensen [JENSEN 2010]:p.72. Finds data is based on the database created by Jensen and only includes Thor’s hammers dateable to the Viking Age. For instance they do not contain 7th century Thor’s hammers from England.

Thor’s hammers of Iron

Loose

Staecker Type 1.1 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 800s - 900s.

Archaeology

  • England, 1
  • Denmark, 53
  • Germany, 5
  • Iceland, 1
  • Scania, 3
  • Sweden,65

Discussion

Thor’s hammer rings

Earliest find 750AD. 800s - 1000s with most from the 900s.[JENSEN 2010]:p.72

Archaeology

  • Scotland, 1 find
  • Sweden, 120 finds containing 321 Thor’s hammers
  • Gotland, 1 find

Discussion

  • Birka: 58 Thors hammer rings found. 95% in cremations. Of graves 11 on women, 9 on men. [ARWIDSSON 1984]:p.133


Thor's Hammers of silver

Unfortunately Jensen does not supply any information regarding the number of silver Thor’s hammers that fall into Staecker four sub categories.
Archaeology

  • England, 15
    • Yorkshire, Leconfield. Ornamented with stamped circles (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.436
    • Yorkshire, Wetwang (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.1403
    • Yorkshire, Harrogate. Plain. Found in 2009. [PAS]:cat.SWYOR-489283
    • Derbyshire, St. Wigstan's. Grave find [JENSEN 2010]:cat.427
    • Lancashire, Cuerdale. (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.425
    • Leicestershire, Swithland. Stamped ornament of squares (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.415 [PAS]:cat.LEIC-185125
    • Lincolnshire, West Lindsey. plain [PAS]:cat.DENO-BD00C3
    • Essex. Crude loop, plain (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.413
    • Norfolk, South Lopham. Stray find. (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.418
    • Norfolk, Surlinham. Stray find. [MARGESON 1997]:14 (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.419
    • Norfolk, Great Witchingham. With a gold insert. Stray find. (Staecker type None) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.422
    • Norfolk. With possible gold foil. Stray find. (Staecker type None) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.423
    • Norfolk, Sibton. Stray find. [MARGESON 1997]:14 (Staecker type 2.1.1) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.424
    • Norfolk, Kings Lynn. Found in 2008? [PAS]:cat.NMS-A9E816
    • London. Engraved X and lines (Staecker type 1.5) [JENSEN 2010]:cat.411

Jensen mentions a couple of other finds, one from Cumbria cat.435 and another from an unknown location. He considers both of these to be modern replicas.
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/473580

  • Denmark, 25
  • Iceland, 1
  • Norway, 5
  • Sweden, 26


... silver, without ornaments

Staecker Type 1.5 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 800s - 1000s with most coming from the 900s


... silver with stamped ornaments

Staecker Type 2.1.1 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 900s - 1000s.


... silver with vegetable patterns

Staecker Type 2.2 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 900s - 1000s.


... pressed silver foil

Staecker Type 2.3 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 900s and probably the 1000s


Thor's Hammers of Other Materials

... amber

Staecker Type 1.2 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker to the C10th (but most examples cannot be dated)

Archaeology

  • Denmark, 9 finds
  • Scandia, 1 find
  • Sweden, 3 finds
  • Gotland, 2 finds

Discussion


... copper alloy

Staecker Type 1.3 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker 700s - 800s. (He also mentions finds from the 'late Viking Age')

Archaeology

  • England, 4 finds
    • Bishopstone, Sussex. Copper alloy, Settlement find [THOMAS 2010]:p.106-108 fig.3.
    • Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010]:cat.456
    • Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010]:cat.457
    • Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010]:cat.463
    • Kent. Female grave find. Excluded by Jensen [JENSEN 2010]:cat.454
  • Denmark, 12 finds
  • Sweden, 2 finds
  • Gotland, 1 find

Discussion
Jensen excludes the 4 finds from Kent from his catalog as his does not consider these to be connected to Scandinavian culture [JENSEN 2010]:database entry description.

... lead

Staecker Type 1.4 [JENSEN 2010]:p.72
Dated by Staecker to no later than the 1000s.

Archaeology

  • England, 2 finds
  • Denmark, 7 finds
  • Gotland, 2 finds

Discussion

... gold

Archaeology

  • Denmark, 1 find

Discussion

Reference

Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1984) Birka II:1 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:1 [ARWIDSSON 1984] ^ *
Jensen, Bo (2010) Viking Age Amulets in Scandinavia and Western Europe.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR S2169 [JENSEN 2010] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 *
Margeson, Sue (1997) The Vikings in Norfolk. [MARGESON 1997] ^ 1 2 *
Portable Antiquities Scheme http://finds.org.uk [PAS] ^ 1 2 3 4 *
Roesdahl, Else, and Wilson, David M. (eds.) (1992) From Viking to Crusader, The Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200. Nordic Council of Ministers. [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992] *
Thomas, Gabor (2010) The later Anglo-Saxon settlement at Bishopstone: a downland manor in the making. [THOMAS 2010] ^ *