Chests, Caskets & Boxes

...
Viking Age Compendium articles on Furniture & Storage:

Household

Household

Buckets & Barrels

Buckets & Barrels

Stools, Benches & Chairs

Stools, Benches & Chairs

Tents & Work Shelters

Tents & Work Shelters

Stools, Benches & Chairs

Stools, Benches & Chairs

Tents & Work Shelters

Tents & Work Shelters

Although the terms chest, casket and box are not well defined, here we have used whatever term is commonly applied to the item in the associated published literature. Petersen defines the difference between caskets and chests by stating that chests should be large, with strikingly large carrying-rings, hinges and keys. ^{(PETERSEN 195 :p.532)} Arwidsson & Thorberg class anything under 1m in length as a casket (Kasten), anything less than 25cm in diameter or length as a box (Buechse). ^{(ARWIDSSON 1989 p.113)}

Summary by Area

Denmark

In Hedeby 10 boxes were found in 9 graves, of these only 2 were male graves. The majority of caskets from Hedeby were in female chamber graves. Eisenschmidt also references to another piece of her published works where she states that metal covered caskets are known from 50-60 graves in the area of Old Denmark. ^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A p.166-168)}

Sweden

Arwidsson and Thorberg have classified the boxes from Birka into 4 groups:

Birka ^{(ARWIDSSON 1989 p.114)}

Group A: Metal bands and / or nails - no lock

Group B: Metal bands and / or nails - with a lock

Group C: Covered in metal with a lock and a domed lid

Group D: Round boxs or tins made from wood or iron and covered in copper-alloy.

Chests

Used instead of cupboards ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}. Sometimes converted to be used as coffins.

Isle of Man, Peel - Grave IV

Current Location-

Type- Grave find (adult)

Find Date- 1982-88

Construction- Wooden chest with an iron hasp and 17 iron nails.

Contents-

Dimensions- L:165cm W:32cm ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 2002)}

Comments-

Bibliography-

Scotland, Whithorn: 6 Chests / coffins

[[File:Box - England, Whithorn ^{(NICHOLSON 1997)}.jpg|frameless|130x350px|left|]]

Current Location-

Type-

Chest 1: Grave II/1: AD c.710-845

Chest 2: Grave II/2: AD c.710-730

Chest 3: Grave II/3: AD c.710-730

Chest 4: Grave II/4: AD c.710-845

Chest 5: Grave II/54: AD c.710-845

Chest 6:

Find Date-

Construction-

Chest 1: Wood with iron fittings and 2 iron hasps. Possible remains of a lock.

Chest 2: Wood with iron fittings and iron straps. Remains of a lock and key.

Chest 3:

Chest 4: Wood with iron fittings, iron strips and iron hasps. Remains of a lock and key.

Chest 5: Wood with iron fittings and iron strips.

Chest 6:

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Nicholson, Andrew (1997) ‘The Antler', 'The Bone and Horn Artefacts' & 'The Iron'. In
Hill, Peter (ed.) (1997) Whithorn & St. Ninian The Excavation of a Monastic Town 1984-91.
p.412-415

Denmark, Forlev

Current Location-

Type- Grave Find

Find Date-

Construction- Wood with iron hinges and a lock

Contents-

Dimensions- L:140cm W:50cm ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Comments- Used as a coffin ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Bibliography-

Denmark, Fyrkat

Current Location-

Type- Grave Find

Find Date-

Construction- Wood with iron hinges and a lock

Contents-

Dimensions- L:130-135cm W:50cm H:25-35cm ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Comments- Used as a coffin. One end broken to fit the body. ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Bibliography-

Denmark, Lejre - Grave 22b

Current Location-

Type- Grave Find

Find Date-

Construction- Wood with iron hinges and a lock. Strengthened by iron bands.

Contents-

Dimensions- L:147cm W:37cm H:28cm ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Comments- Used as a coffin. One end broken to fit the body. (Roesdahl 1982)

Bibliography-

Denmark, Jelling - North Mound

Current Location-

Type- Grave Find

Find Date- AD 1820. Destroyed during excavation. ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Construction- Only 2 iron rings and some rivets have survived. Original description from 1820 "... the casket, which is almost rotted away, looking like a small trunk, 3¼ ells long; the bottom was calked with plaits of hair and held together with rivets. In its side was two iron rings... The lid consisted of two conves boards, with shanks of haor between them. There were traces of canvas on the outside of the casket as well as a very small piece of a narrow strip which looked like thin silver. ^{(ROESDAHL 1982)}

Contents-

Dimensions- L:200cm ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 2002)}

Comments-

Bibliography-

Denmark, Halleby

Current Location-

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments- Used as a Toolbox

Bibliography-

Roesdahl, Else (1982) Viking Age Denmark. British Museum.
p.115

Denmark, Tjele

Current Location-

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments- Used as a Toolbox

Bibliography-

Roesdahl, Else (1982) Viking Age Denmark. British Museum.
p.115

Norway, Oseberg 149

Current Location-

Type- Grave (Female)

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents- articles for women's work, 2 lamps, comb and scissors

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Norway, Oseberg 156

Current Location-

Type- Grave (Female)

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents- hide, cloth and 2 combs

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Norway, Oseberg 178

Current Location-

Type- Grave (Female)

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents- wild apples

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Sweden, Mastermyr

Current Location-

Type- Hoard

Find Date-

Construction- Oak

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments- Used as a Toolbox

Bibliography-

Caskets - Wood with metal fittings

England, Bishopstone no.53

Current Location-

Type- Settlement

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Thomas, Gabor (2010) The later Anglo-Saxon settlement at Bishopstone: a downland manor in the making.
p.118

England, Cumwhitton - Grave 1

Current Location- Tulee House Museum

Type- Grave Find

Find Date-

Construction- Maple

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Paterson, Caroline; Parsons, Adam J.; Newman, Rachel M.; Johnson, Nick and Howard Davis, Christine (2014) Shadows in the Sand. Excavation of a Viking-Age Cemetery at Cumwhitton, Cumbria.
p.59-67

Isle of Man, Cronk yn How

Current Location-

Type- Grave find

Find Date-

Construction- iron hinges and studded with iron nails. Curved lid. (Graham-Campbell 2002)

Contents- a bead of Viking date.

Dimensions- L:60cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Scotland, Arran: King's Cross Point

Current Location-

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Scotland, Skye: Skeabost

Current Location-

Class-

Type- Grave find,

Find Date- AD 1891

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Paterson, Caroline; Parsons, Adam J.; Newman, Rachel M.; Johnson, Nick and Howard Davis, Christine (2014) Shadows in the Sand. Excavation of a Viking-Age Cemetery at Cumwhitton, Cumbria.
p.67

Denmark, Hedeby: Chamber Grave 5

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- Chamber grave C10th

Find Date-

Construction- Wood, iron sheet with decorative nails, domed lid with a handle, 4 hinges, 3 iron hasps with copper alloy animal heads.

Contents- knife and scissors, covered in textiles

Dimensions- L:54cm W:30cm H:20cm

Comments- Classed as a Birka Group C. Very similar to the casket found in Birka grave Bj.645

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Grave 45

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- Coffin grave, C10th

Find Date-

Construction- wood covered in silver plated iron bands, 2 hasps: 1 copper alloy dog and 1 silver plated horse or bird

Contents-

Dimensions- L:60cm W:30cm H:20-23cm

Comments- Birka group B

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Grave 497

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- C10th grave

Find Date-

Construction- wood with iron and copper alloy bands, hinges and a lock

Contents- scissors, awl, tweezers, bell

Dimensions- L:35cm W:20cm

Comments- Birka Group B

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Chamber Grave 1

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- Chamber Grave C10th

Find Date-

Construction- only lock plate and lock remains

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments- Birka Group B

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Chamber Grave 4

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- Chamber Grave C10th

Find Date-

Construction- wood, domed lid with a handle on the lid, hinges and a lock fragment

Contents-

Dimensions- L:20cm W:20cm

Comments- Birka Group B

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Chamber Grave 2

Current Location- Hedeby Viking Museum

Type- Chamber Grave C10th

Find Date-

Construction- cylindrical wooden casket with an iron bottom and 240 nails in 5 rows (top row further in and pointing outwards), sliding bar lock with a dog head terminal. Copper alloy ring on the top.

Contents- 4 chain links and a piece of brocaded tablet weave

Dimensions- Dia:30cm H:12cm

Comments- Birka Group D. It is possible this casket contained bowls decorated with the nails, rather than these being part of the casket, this was observed in a grave from Thumby-Bienebek. Other, less complete, Birka Group D boxes were found in the boat chamber grave and grave 497.

Bibliography-

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1
p.166-168

Denmark, Hedeby: Harbour

Current Location-

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

[[category:]]

Norway, Oseberg

No.37
No.69
No.103
No.104b
No.169c

Caskets - Whale-bone

England: Franks Casket

Current Location- British Museum

Type- AD 700-750, Northumbria

Find Date-

Construction- Whale-bone

Contents-

Dimensions- L:23cm W:19cm H:13cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Webster, Leslie (2012) The Franks Casket.

Germany - Bamberg Casket

Also known as 'Casket of St Kunigunde'

Current Location- Bayerisches Nationalmuseum MA 286

Type- c. AD 1000

Find Date- acquired in 1860

Construction- Oak with ivory and gilt copper-alloy.

Contents-

Dimensions- H:13.3cm x W:25.7cm x L:25.0cm

Comments- Ivory may be mammoth.

Bibliography-

Germany - Cammin Casket

Current Location- Destroyed during the 2nd World War.

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Caskets - Wood with bone-mounts

Ireland, Dublin: Christchurch place

Current Location- National Museum of Ireland E122.16345

Type-

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents- n/a

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

England, Winchester: Ludgershall Castle

Current Location-

Type- C11th-12th

Find Date-

Construction- Only the lid survives. Bone mounts, some backed with silver sheet. Remains of two metal hinges.

Contents- n/a

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

MacGregor, Arthur; Mainman, A. J. and Rogers, N.S.H. (1999) Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn from Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. York Archaeological Trust: 17/12
p.1958-1959 fig.918

England, Bishopstone no.57

Current Location-

Type- Settlement

Find Date-

Construction- Bone mount

Contents-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Thomas, Gabor (2010) The later Anglo-Saxon settlement at Bishopstone: a downland manor in the making.
p.118

England, York: Coppergate 6964

Current Location- Jorvik Museum

Type- Settlement mid C11th

Find Date-

Construction- Only the lid survives. Oak board with bone mounts.

Contents- n/a

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

England, York: Castlegate

Current Location- Yorkshire Museum YORYM 500.1-6.48

Type- Settlement

Find Date-

Construction- Only the lid survives. Oak board with bone mounts, some backed with sheet bronze.

Contents- n/a

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

Boxes - Wood

Ireland, Dublin: Christchurch Place

Current Location- National Museum of Ireland E122:17155

Type- Settlement Mid C10th

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions- L:15.8cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Ireland, Dublin: Fishamble Street

Current Location- National Museum of Ireland E190:7101

Type- Settlement

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions- L:22.2cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Lang. James T. (1988) Viking-Age Decorated Wood. A study of its ornament and style. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.01
p.8, 52 fig.10 cat.DW7

Ireland, Dublin: Christchurch Place

Current Location- National Museum of Ireland E122:639

Type- Settlement

Find Date-

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions- fragment L:7.9cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Lang. James T. (1988) Viking-Age Decorated Wood. A study of its ornament and style. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.01
p.55 cat.DW17

Ireland, Dublin: High Street

Current Location- National Museum of Ireland E43:2341

Type- Settlement - unstratified

Find Date- 1973

Construction-

Contents-

Dimensions- fragment L:12.7cm

Comments-

Bibliography-

Lang. James T. (1988) Viking-Age Decorated Wood. A study of its ornament and style. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.01
p.81-82 cat.DW101

Norway, Oseberg

Grieg, Sigurd (1928) Osebergfundet Vol II.
p.340-341

No.56c
No.60a
No.104a

Band-boxes

Also known as "Chip boxes" or "Lath-walled boxes".

References

Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1989) Birka II:3 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:3

^{(ARWIDSSON 1989)}

Arents, Ute & Eisenschmidt, Silke (2010) Die Gräber von Haithabu. Band 1: Text, Literatur. Die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu. 15/1. [The Graves of Hedeby. Volume 1: Text, Literature. The Excavations in Hedeby. 15/1]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Band 15/1

^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A)}

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

^{(WOV 2003)}

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

^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980)}

Grieg, Sigurd (1928) Osebergfundet Vol II.

^{(GRIEG 1928)}

Petersen, Jan (1951) Vikingetidens Redskaper.

^{(PETERSEN 1951)}

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)}

http://www.unimus.no/samsok/index.php