metaldetectingnordmannaland

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This is a gilded silver object we found earlier this season in Hedmark, Norway, within a cone of viking age finds indicating an overplowed grave.

We do not have an exact ID for this item, but several prominent Norwegian archaeologists have alluded to it being the end of a a manuscript pointer, a so called aestel. The anglo-saxon style of ornamentation seems to support this hypothesis. There is only one known aestel found in Norway, a golden one unearthed on the site of a viking longhouse manor in Borg, Lofoten. There are very few aestels known in the world, most of which are believed to have been commissioned by King Alfred the Great, King of Wessex 871 - 886, and first King of England 886 - 899. Alfred’s aestels were gifted along with his translation of Pope Gregorius’ book Pastoral Care, as part of a project to improve education among the clergy after his unification of England. His translation still stands to this day as the oldest known book written in English. For all his accomplishments, Alfred’s reign was also marked by constant ravaging of viking northmen, and it is tempting to speculate that the aestel might have been brought here as loot from a raid on the English coast.

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Bronze knife pommel of uncertain date, found in Råde this season. It measures 20 mm in diameter.

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Leaden measuring weight, dating to late viking age or the early medieval period. It weighs 10.7 grams, and measures 15 mm across. Found in Råde this season.

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Viking age axe, found earlier this year in Hedmark, Norway. In the immediate vicinity of this axe there has also been found another axe, a spear and a sword, suggesting an overplowed burial site.

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2 Skilling 1624, minted during the reign of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway. Found in Hedmark earlier this year.

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Three silver coins fused together into one piece, a so-called “coin drop”, dating from around 1565 based on the only legible date found on the coins. 

This type of coin is nicknamed a “klipping” literally meaning clipped coin, derived from its method of production. These coins are of poor quality, usually minted in dire times, sometimes during a siege, and the name refers to the method of minting in which an entire sheet of silver or copper is hammered with the motif, and later cut into pieces, often resulting in small, uneven and incomplete coins.

These particular coins were minted during the Northern Seven Years’ War (1563-1570), a war that was much the culmination of political vying and tension following the dissolution of the Kalmar Union in 1523.

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Gold bracteate, found last month in Råde, Norway. These are hammered medallions from Northern Europe, dated to the migration period of the germanic iron age (375 AD - 538 AD).

This bracteate is D-type, categorized by their stylized depiction of animals, in this case a bird, possibly a bird of prey due to the curved beak. The head of the animal is in the lower left in the photos.

Originally, this bracteate would have been bead-rimmed and fitted with a loop for hanging. It has been lost to time, either by wear and tear, by damage and erosion in the soil, or more like by the 1500 rotations of the plow since it fell to the earth. Shortly after this braceate was found, another 4 turned up, all in Råde, Østfold. All except for one are folded with the motif facing inwards, something that might indicate a ritual sacrifice and deposition of material wealth. These bracteates are generally dated to the mid-6th century, which saw an extended cold period following the extreme weather events of 535–536.  This event is a strong contender for the origin of the Fimbulwinter mentioned in norse mythology, recanted by Snorri Sturlasson in the Younger Edda. It is the Fimbulwinter that precedes Ragnarök, when Sköll and Hati, the offspring of Fenrir, will swallow the sun and moon, during the events of the norse apocalypse.

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Bronze fragment with ring and dot pattern, found last month in Råde, Norway. This motif is found throughout antiquity in Northern Europe, but is generally dated to iron age.

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Animal head foot plate of a cruciform brooch, found in Råde last month. These brooches are generally dated to migration period (375 AD - 538 AD).

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Folded lead rune amulet, dating from the viking age or early medieval period, though most likely viking age due to the context in which it was found. The function of these objects are unknown, but it is believed they were both for communication and possibly magical purposes.

These are often found nearby cemeteries in the period surrounding the christianization of Norway.

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1 Skilling Dansk 1668, coined during the reign of Frederik III of Denmark (1648-1670). Found last season in Østfold.

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Unidentified copper alloy item with what seems to be concentric dotted circles. This fragment was found in undisturbed soil with a viking age context.

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Viking age pendant whetstone, made from quartzite slate, found last season in Østfold.

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Viking age measuring weight, 2.06 grams, found in Østfold last season.

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Viking age or medieval key, found last season in Østfold.

From a previous post about a fragment of a similar key we found some years ago:

This is only one of several types of advanced lock mechanisms that was used by the vikings. The mechansim is illustrated in fig. 2.

Other types of mechanism can be found here (in norwegian): http://goo.gl/UrJuLK

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Iron age spindle whorl, lead with bronze coating, found last season in Østfold. Taken in by the archaeologist on-site.

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2 Skilling Dansk 1668, coined during the reign of Frederik III of Denmark (1648-1670). Found last season in Østfold.