Spoons

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Viking Age Compendium articles on wargear:

Household

Household

Copper-alloy Cauldrons & Pans

Copper-alloy Cauldrons & Pans

Drinking & Blowing Horns

Drinking & Blowing Horns

Frying pans, Skillets & Gridirons

Frying pans, Skillets & Gridirons

Ladles

Ladles

Household

Household

Copper-alloy Cauldrons & Pans

Copper-alloy Cauldrons & Pans

Drinking & Blowing Horns

Drinking & Blowing Horns

Frying pans, Skillets & Gridirons

Frying pans, Skillets & Gridirons

Ladles

Ladles

Introduction

Finds of wooden spoons were non existent until the two decorated examples from the Clifford Street excavation in York were found in the 1950's. Now we have a number of examples including a large number from Novgorod, Russia. ^{(MORRIS 2000 p.2267)}. Some wooden spoons would have been home made but others show signs of possibly being made in specialist workshops ^{(MORRIS 2000 p.2268)}.
Spoons would have served a number of uses from day-to-day eating utensils to small Roman style toilet spoons used for removing ear wax or possibly measuring out cosmetics ^{(MAINMAN & ROGERS 2000 p.2547)}
Cattle or horse bones were mainly used to make bone spoons. ^{(MACGREGOR 1985 p.181)}. Viking used antler as well as bone and their spoons are characterised by large well-defined bowls and flat often decorated handles ^{(MACGREGOR 1985 p.182)}

Normal Spoons

A spoon with a shallow bowl and a handle.
Note: Included in this type are archaeological finds of spoons where only the bowl and possibly part of the handle has survived

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• England, York.
  • Clifford Street. 2 wooden spoons with flat handles both of which had decorated handles ^{(ROESDAHL 1981 p.110 Cat.YDL11, YDL12. Note that the illustrations are numbered incorrectly)}
  • Benden. 1 wooden spoon ^{(MORRIS 2000 p.2267 Cat.9234)}.
  • Coppergate. wooden spoons ^{(MORRIS 2000 p.2267 Cat.9985, 8896, 8899, 8898)}. 1 bone spoon (bowl only) [MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999:Cat.7062].
• England, Flixborough. 1 bone spoon with 'knop' terminal mid C8th to early C9th ^{(FOREMAN 2009 p.231)}.
• Denmark
  • Hedeby, L-shaped wooden spoon ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980 cat.56)}
• Skane
  • Lund, Birch wood spoon ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980 cat.57)}
• Norway
  • Trondheim, ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980 cat.58)}
• Sweden
  • Birka, Antler ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980 cat.59)}
    

Discussion
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Double Spoons

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• England, York. Coppergate. 1 made from bone ^{(MACGREGOR, MAINMAN AND ROGERS 1999 p.1972 Cat.7063)}, 1 made from copper alloy ^{(MAINMAN AND ROGERS 2000 Cat. 10366)}.
  

Discussion
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Small Toilet Spoons

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• England, York. 1 possible toilet spoon made from copper alloy ^{(MAINMAN AND ROGERS 2000 p.2547 Cat. 10365)}.
  

Discussion
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Spoon with Spatula

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• England, Sevington Hoard. 1 find made from silver. ^{(WILSON 1964 cat.67)}
  

Discussion
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Spatula with Fork

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• England, Sevington Hoard. Spatula with a 2 prong fork made from silver. ^{(WILSON 1964 cat.68)}
  

Discussion
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References

Foreman, Martin (2009) 'Bone and antler implements and utensils'. In

Evans, D.H., and Loveluck, Christopher (eds.) (2009) Life and Economy at Early Medieval Flixborough. c.AD 600-1000. The Artefact Evidence. Excavations at Flixborough Volume 2. Oxbow Books.

 ^{(FOREMAN 2009)}

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

 ^{(GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980)}

MacGregor, Arthur (1985) Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn, The Technology of Skeletal Materials since the Roman Period. Barnes & Noble Books.

 ^{(MACGREGOR 1985)}

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

 ^{(MACGREGOR, MAINMAN & ROGERS 1999)}

Mainman, A.J. and Rogers, N.S.H. (2000) Finds from Anglo-Scandinavian York. York Archaeological Trust: 17/14

 ^{(MAINMAN & ROGERS 2000)}

Morris, Carole (2000) Wood and Woodworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. York Archaeological Trust: 17/13

 ^{(MORRIS 2000)}

Ottaway, Patrick (1992) Anglo-Scandinavian Ironwork from Coppergate. York Archaeological Trust: 17/06

 ^{(OTTAWAY 1992)}

Roesdahl, Else; Graham-Campbell, James; Connor, Patricia and Pearson, Kenneth (1981) The Vikings in England, and their Danish homeland.

 ^{(ROESDAHL 1981)}

Wilson, David M. (1964) Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100. The British Museum.

 ^{(WILSON 1964)}