Hedeby Belts

Hedeby Type Strap Ends

Arents and Eisenschmidt list 30 known finds: 9 from Hedeby graves, 8 from the Hedeby settlement and 13 others from the Baltic area. ^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A p.141)} All the datable finds are dated to the 10th Century and where the gender of the body can be determined, they are all from wealthy men's graves.^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A p.143)}

They are divided into 4 variants:

Variant 1

Animal head terminal with a plane flat back.

Variant 2

The common variant from Hedeby with 8 examples. It has 3 raised profiles in the middle and no raised profile on the shoulder. On the end is 4 balls on the terminal.

Variant 3

These have a round shaft with a polyhedral raised profile in the middle. The terminal is oval shaped.

Variant 4

These have multiple raised profiles. The terminal is a polyhedral

Related Buckles

It is suggested that this type of strap end is often used on belts with no buckle. The strap end would pass through a copper-alloy belt glider or an organic hoop. ^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A p.141)}

Buckles

17 buckles have been found in Hedeby burials, 8 with an attached plate, 9 without. 2 were silver, 8 were copper-alloy and 7 were iron. ^{(ARENTS & EISENSCHMIDT 2010A pp.137-138)}

Leather Straps

Folded Straps with rows of stitching

I'm aware of 4 straps from Hedeby with stitching running along their length.

Hedeby

Described as ‘Unknown’ use. 2 rows of parallel stitching ^{(GROENMAN VAN WAATERINGE 1984 Tab. 28.1)}

Hedeby

Described as ‘Unknown’ use. 2 rows of parallel stitching ^{(GROENMAN VAN WAATERINGE 1984 Tab. 28.2)}

Hedeby Boat Chamber

^{(PEDERSEN 2014 Cat.372)}

Hedeby Boat Chamber

^{(PEDERSEN 2014 Cat.372)}

References

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)}

Groenman van Waateringe, Willy (1984) Die Lederfunde Von Haithabu. [The Leather Finds from Hedeby]. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu - Bericht 21

 ^{(GROENMAN VAN WAATERINGE 1984)}

Pedersen, Anne (2014) Dead Warriors in Living Memory. A study of weapon and equestrian burials in Viking-age Denmark, AD 800-1000. Publications from the National Museum. Studies in Archaeology & History Vol. 20:1 2 Jelling Series..

 ^{(PEDERSEN 2014B)}