HRAFN PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography | Viking Age Archaeology | Birds | 

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New fascinating article by Leszek Gardeła and Kerstin Odebäck concerning Viking Age miniature shields. Article is available here.

Abstract

Miniature shields are some of the most intriguing metal objects found across Scandinavia and the wider Viking world. They are mainly known from cremation and inhumation graves, in which they typically accompany women, but also from hoards, settlement sites, and trading ports. Various scholars have usually interpreted miniature shields as amulets and symbols of protection with either pagan or Christian connotations. By (re)assessing a large corpus of miniature shields from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Sweden, this paper seeks to nuance previous views on these objects and provides new thoughts on their different types, usage, and meaning.

In the photo are presented two miniature shields (see description of these finds in Swedish History Museum database: miniature shield 1, miniature shield 2) discovered in Birka (Sweden).

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Beautiful and mysterious forest located near top of mount Fløyen near Bergen (Norway). 

Photos, which I took in this wonderful forest, are presented in the gallery ‘On Fløyen‘ on my photoblog ‘Hrafn Photography’.

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Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway) saw from bird's-eye view.

Photos, which I took in Scandinavian countries, are presented in the galleries on my photoblog ‘Hrafn Photography’.

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Metro stations in Stockholm are famous of their unique look. Every station in this city was decorated with different paintings and sculptures. To enter into them is like to step into different mysterious and fascinating world.

Photos which I took in Stockholm metro are included in the gallery ‘I Stockholms tunnelbana‘ on my photoblog Hrafn Photography.

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Picture stone from Tängelgårda (Gotland, Sweden) presented at the exhibition in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.

In this fascinating picture stone were depicted women, men, horses walking in procession, three birds of prey flying above them. What is interesting below chest of a one horse were painted two symbols known as valknuts. Detailed analysis of picture stones from Gotland is included in Sigmund Oehrl’s monograph entitled ‘Die Bildsteine Gotlands: Probleme und neue Wege ihrer Dokumentation, Lesung und Deutung’.

More information concerning so-called valknut can be found in Tom Hellers’ book ‘Valknútr: Das Dreiecksymbol der Wikingerzeit’. This symbol was also discussed by Eirik Storesund in fascinating post ‘The "Valknútr" Does Not Exist‘ on Brute Norse blog.   

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Two richly decorated Thor’s hammers presented at the exhibition in the Swedish History Museum. Silver Thor’s hammer, decorated with bird-like head, was discovered in Skåne. Second Thor’s hammer was found in Bredsättra on Öland.

Various Thor’s hammers were discussed in Bo Jensen’s book entitled ‘Viking Age Amulets in Scandinavia and Western Europe’.

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Mound 1 named ‘Skopintull’ was a very complex and rich double cremation grave dated to the 9th century. It was discovered in Hovgården on isle Adelsön (Uppland, Sweden). In the bronze bucket located, which was located under a cairn, were discovered burnt bones of man (over 50 years old) and woman (30-50 years old). On the top of the vessel was located strand of dark brown human hair. Moreover, among human bones were found remains of a cat, cattle, seven dogs, three horses two pigs and sheep/goat. What is interesting in this grave were also documented burnt bones of hen (Gallus gallus domesticus), greylag goose (Anser anser) / domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), common crane (Grus grus), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), bird belonging to Anatidae family and undetermined species of bird(s).

In the cremation layer, which surrounding metal bucket, were discovered numerous rich and unique artefacts like fragments of textiles with golden thread, numerous bronze mounts, multicoloured glass beads, antler/bone/horn combs and several bone game pieces.

Furthermore, in 2013 in the storehouse of Swedish History Museum archaeologist Dr Gunnar Andersson discovered a ceramic pot labelled ‘Skopintull’. In this pot was found soil, burnt human and animal bones [Lund, Arwill-Nordbladh 2016: 429-430]. Furthermore, at the bottom of the pot was discovered an unburnt bird egg.      

It should be mentioned that ‘Skopintull’ is one of the several Viking Age cremation graves in which were discovered remains of several different species of birds along with numerous species of mammals, elaborated objects and unburnt egg.

Further reading

Lund J., Arwill-Nordbladh E. 2016: Divergent Ways of Relating to the Past in the Viking Age, European Journal of Archaeology 19 (3), pp. 415-438.

Rydh H. 1936: Förhistoriska undersökningar på Adelsö, Stockholm.

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Colourful buildings of Gamla stan in Stockholm.

More photos of architecture in Stockholm can be found in the gallery entitled 'I höstlig Stockholm' on blog Hrafn Photography.

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Gorgeous sculpture showing Valkyrie riding to battle manufactured by Norwegian-Danish sculptor Stephan Sinding. This artwork is located in Churchill Park in Copenhagen. More photos of this wonderful sculpture can be found in the gallery entitled ‘I København (Bind II)’ on blog Hrafn Photography.

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Colourful buildings located at Magstræde in Copenhagen. More photos of architecture in Copenhagen can be found in the galleries entitled ‘I København (Bind I)’ and  ‘I København (Bind II)’ on blog Hrafn Photography.

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New fascinating and captivating podcast! Danièle Cybulskie in the very interesting discussion with Leszek Gardeła on Viking Age archaeology, graves and armed women.

To learn more about this topic visit medievalists.net.

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When looking at Viking Age graves from Norway, one major challenge is that most of them do not contain any remaining bone material. Therefore we need to look at the objects added to the graves to understand issues like the gender of the person. Leszek Gardeła takes a look at items like brooches and beads and how they were found in the graves of Norse women.

This video is part of ‘Amazons of the North: Armed Females in Viking Archaeology and Old Norse Literature’ - a research project led by Dr Leszek Gardeła (Bonn University, Germany). Funded by the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service.

You can follow the project on Facebook and Instagram.

Script and production: Leszek Gardeła and Mira Fricke

Music:

“TYR” written by Einar Selvik. Copyright BMG Platinum Songs US. Used by kind permission of BMG Management GMBH.

“Hagal” written by Einar Selvik. Copyright BMG Platinum Songs US. Used by kind permission of BMG Management GMBH.

See also video: Viking Warrior Women?

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Grave 4 from Fyrkat

Nearby northern side of magnificent fortress in Fyrkat was discovered a Viking Age cemetery. Among different graves, was found captivating grave of woman who was buried in a wagon-body and was equipped with inter alia bronze bowl, decorated bronze Gotlandic box brooch, two silver toe-rings, small silver chair (amulet?), silver pendants, shears, roasting spit, oak chest. According to specialist in Viking Age mortuary practices, this woman was probably ritual specialist and dealt with complex magic practices known as seiðr (see new interpretation of this grave in Gardeła 2016: 73-74).

Further reading:

Gardeła L. 2016: (Magic) Staffs in the Viking Age, Wien.

Price N. 2002: The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia, Uppsala.

Roesdahl E. 1977: Fyrkat en jysk vikingeborg II: Oldsagerne og gravpladsen, København.

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Viking Ring Fortress in Fyrkat

Viking Age ring fortress in Fyrkat is one of seven constructions of this type which were discovered in Denmark and Southern Sweden. It consist of high circular embankment divided inside by straight roads for four squares. Inside each square were located four houses of Trelleborg-type (marked by white stones in the photos). What is interesting nearby ring fortress was located cemetery on which was discovered rich furnished grave of woman (more details below). Currently, all graves discovered in Fyrkat are marked by average white stones with Roman numerals.

More photos in the gallery ’In Fyrkat’ on the photoblog ‘Hrafn Photography’.

Further reading:

Roesdahl E. 1977: Fyrkat en jysk vikingeborg II: Oldsagerne og gravpladsen, København.

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Medieval texts tell of Viking warrior women taking part in battles, but are these stories describing reality or pure fiction?  What can archaeology tell us about women in the Viking Age? The search for answers is being done by ‘Amazons of the North: Armed Females in Viking Archaeology and Old Norse Literature,’ a research project led by Dr Leszek Gardeła (Bonn University, Germany) and funded by the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service.

You can follow the project on Facebook and Instagram.

Script and production: Leszek Gardeła and Mira Fricke

Music:

“TYR” written by Einar Selvik. Copyright BMG Platinum Songs US. Used by kind permission of BMG Management GMBH.

“Hagal” written by Einar Selvik. Copyright BMG Platinum Songs US. Used by kind permission of BMG Management GMBH.

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Beautiful glass game pieces which were discovered in the grave Bj 750 (Birka, Sweden) and used to play tactical game named hnefatafl.

More information about games and meaning of game pieces in the funerary context can be found in following publications:

Gardeła L. 2012: What the Vikings did for fun? Sports and pastimes in medieval northern Europe.

Hall M. A. 2015: Board Games in Boat Burials: Play in the Performance of Migration and Viking Age Mortuary Practice.

More photos from my visit in Statens Historiska Museet can be found in the post I Statens Historiska Museet.

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In 1957 in Klinta near Köpingsvik (Öland, Schweden) K.G. Petersson excavated a very interesting Viking Age cremation grave 59:3. In this grave were discovered burnt bones of woman and man (buried in grave 59:2) which were in majority placed in small urn located in grave pit in the centre of mound. Moreover, in the cremation layer above grave pit were discovered burnt remains of cat, cow, dog, horse, pig, sheep/goat and few paw bones and claws bear. Above that, in grave pit was found unburnt skeleton of hen (Gallus gallus domesticus). In the grave pit and cremation layer were documented inter alia unique iron staff, oval brooches, rectangular copper sheets with runic inscriptions, axehead, bronze jug, bronze bowl and tiny Thor's hammer ring.

Artefacts from this very complex grave are presented in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.

More information concerning cremation grave 59:3 from Klinta can be found in:

Gardeła L. 2016: (Magic) Staffs in the Viking Age, Studia Medievalia Septentrionalia 27, Wien.

Price N. 2002: The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia, AUN 31, Uppsala.

Schultze H. 1987:  Köpings socken, [in:] M. Beskow Sjöberg (ed.), Ölands järnåldersgravfält I, Stockholm, pp. 21-138.

This grave will be also discussed in my forthcoming publications concerning meaning of birds the Viking Age graves and beliefs.  

Links to my post concerning staffs from Viking Age can be found here.