Context:
Found during student excavations at Hordamuseet’s museum area in 2008. The fragment was found in a layer dated to the Roman period, and was clearly not in context. Layers dated to the Roman and pre-Roman periods as well as the Late Bronze Age were excavated and were interpreted as a settlement.
Slender decorated palstave. The blade has a Y-shaped plastic decoration consisting of two wide and deep grooves. The cast seams are visible on the sides. Dark green-brown patina, which has peeled off, and some notches. Otherwise, the ax is in good condition. Parallels: Rygh R93, Montelius Minnen fig. 849a. Length: 13.4 cm Width: 3.8 cm above the edge
Context:
Palstave was found on the farm Helleve and has been there for as long as anyone can remember, but there is no information about where, when or how it was found.
Location:
Helleve (gnr. 96), Voss, Hordaland
Date: Palstave are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2.
Dagger blade with two rivet holes. There is some damage to the edges of the blade, otherwise it is well preserved. Green patina, there are some scratches where someone has tried to polish the blade. There is a central rib on both sides of the blade. The dagger was previously kept at the Archaeological Museum in Stavanger with number SM 2849. Length: 12.5 cm. Width: 2.8 cm
Context: Possibly from a mound, «Garahaugen»; it was reported to have been found in a chamber containing charcoal. The excavation of Garahaugen revealed a central mound on an earthen platform, covered by a mound and surrounded by a foot chain, and a central chamber made of boulders, measuring 0.75×0.35 m. The chamber had been disturbed by grave robbers, and contained charcoal and cleaned cremated leg. The charcoal was radiocarbon dated to 3300±80BP/1460-1300 cal BC (T 858), placing the burial in Period 2-3. There was also another burial consisting of charcoal and cremated bones between some stone slabs; the charcoal was dated to 3030±70BP/1150-1010 cal BC (T 959). Several plow tracks and a cooking pit were found under the earthen platform, and charcoal from an area near the pit was dated to 3080±20 BP/1210-1010 cal BC (T 860). Although this cannot be established, it is possible that the dagger actually came from Garahaugen. It also cannot be ruled out that it came from another pile or heap nearby.
Small socketed axe without a loop. The hole is partially missing on one side, this is mostly old damage. The blade is worn and there is no internal shaft support. Green patina, most of it is gone, and the ax is corroded. Possible parallel: Baudou VII C 2b variant. Length: 8.3 cm Width: 4.8 cm across the blade.
Context:
Found in the shore below a pit with gravelly masses, where a grave is known as well as a number of Iron Age finds. The ax may have come from the gravel; however, this cannot be determined.
Location:
Nes (gnr. 81/6, 7), Kvinnherad, Hordaland
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 4-5. Some of these can probably be dated to the Early Bronze Age period 3.
Small razor (B11184/a) with a curved handle ending in a small flat button (stylized horse’s head). The blade is wide and narrows towards the handle. There is some damage to the blade and end, otherwise it is well preserved. Dark green patina; there is some corrosion on the handle. Length: 8.8 cm Width: 2.2 cm
Small pieces of wood and bark (B11184/b)
Burnt bones (B11184/c) Photo: Svein Skare
Context: Found in a small stone chest in a pile at Valevågen. The cairn was built on an outcrop, and was partially excavated by Egil Bakka in 1958. Røysen measured 14 x 2 m, and had an inner wall with a diameter of 7 m. The wall consisted of flat stones and boulders. A small stone chest was found next to the wall; last measured 0.6 x 0.4 m, it was 0.25 m deep. The bottom plate was covered by a layer of sand and the rake knife was stuck in the sand. There was no urn; cremated bones were found under the base plate. Chips were found on the bottom of the coffin and birch bark was found around the sides, between the cover plate and the standing slabs.
Location:
Hysstad (no. 26/1), Stord, Hordaland
Date:
Razor with stylized horse heads is dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Bangle, with spiral ends, made of a single solid band of gold. There is little with an oval cross-section. The ends are simple spirals rolled in opposite directions. Some signs of use on the outside of the bracelet. Width: 6.4-8 cm. Weight: 73 g.
Context:
Found at the bottom of a slope near a boathouse, and near a mountain, while digging a ditch. It was found in dark soil about 60-70 cm deep and there was a row of stones. The largest stone measured about 1 m.
Location:
Vikse (no. 70/5), Sveio, Hordaland
Date:
Bracelets with spiral ends are known from the middle of the Bronze Age period 2-4. The gold arm rings from the Early Bronze Age are twisted, so this ring is dated to the Young Bronze Age, period 4.
Context:
Found in 1955 on a path west of a large crag, 300 m N from Voss Folkemuseum and 100 m above the plateau where the buildings are located, 275 m above sea level. As the ax had not been there for long, it had presumably come down from the hillside above during the winter.
Location:
Mølster (gnr, 46/1), Voss, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of the Norwegian variety are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Slender socketed axe with loop and extended neck. The finder polished the axe, so the green patina is almost gone. There is a faint horizontal rib around the hole. No internal shaft support. The ax was cast incorrectly: the loop is tight and part of the socket is missing on one side. Whether the ax was actually used is impossible to say as the blade has been sharpened in modern times. Baudou’s Scanian variant B 2 a. Length: c. 9.8 cm. Width: 5.6 cm across the blade
Context:
Found in the remains of an old forge «years ago», no other information. There is a pile nearby.
Location:
Børve (78/1), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
One half of a soapstone mould for socketed axe with loop. There are three transverse ribs on the neck, between the rim and the loop. The mould is somewhat damaged, especially around the edge, so that the shape of the blade is uncertain. There is a V-shaped cut at the top. The shape is concave on the outside. The axe is similar to Montelius: Minnen fig. 1169 and 1170. Length: 10.9 cm. Width: 6.4 cm
Context:
Found in the ground during plowing during potato harvest, no other information.
Location:
Eide (no. 123/11), Granvin, Hordaland
Date:
The mould is for a small axe of a type dated to the Late Bronze Age period 6.
Context:
Found while digging trenches along the foot of a spring, close to an old landslide. The ring was placed on the edge of a rock in a layer of sandy soil, which was covered by a layer of peat. It was placed so that it would have been visible until the bog grew and covered it.
Location:
Støle (gnr. 35/6), Etne, Hordaland
Date:
Rings of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
Mould. One half of a soapstone mould for an socketed axe; probably unfinished as there is no loop or ribs. The axe is slender and undecorated, with a curved egg. Length: 13.4 cm. Width: 6.3 cm
Context:
Found about 0.5 m deep on a slope, 20-30 m from the site of several pits and a ditch. It was found together with a «quern stone», which is now lost. Excavations at the site yielded no further information.
Small decorated spearhead of the Smørumovre-type, a settlement west northwest of Copenhagen, Denmark. There is some damage to the base, where one of the rivet holes is visible, and the tip is broken. The base has a round cross-section. The edges are uneven; one is slightly wider than the other. Faint remains of decoration around the plinth: a border consisting of a single line, then a zigzag pattern of double lines and a double line below. The metal is green and oxidized. Length: 13.2 cm
Context:
The spearhead was found by hunters in the mountains near Voss, on the slopes of Kaldafjellet at about 1000 m above sea level. It was found in peat between stones. Whether the spearhead was placed there on purpose or is a stray find is impossible to determine.
Location:
Found in the mountains, Kaldafjell, Voss, Hordaland
Date:
Spearheads of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2.
Context:
Found in a mound, «Nesjarøysi», located on a small gravel hill about 40 m from land and close to a small river, 10 m.a.s.l. It was originally 15 m and had a height of approx. 1.8-2 m. According to Olafsen (1907), it had a kerb. During the removal of the pile, a large chest made of stone slabs was found and removed. It was c. 2 m long, and consisted of a slab at the gable ends, one on one side, and two slabs on the other. The bottom consisted of beach rock. After the slabs were removed, the blade of a dagger was found. The cairn was built on the beach, which beach stones under the entire cairn indicate. The mound was removed by the farmer in 1930, and shortly afterwards was inspected by archaeologist Johs Bøe.
Found together with: Small undecorated jar (B7656/a). There is some damage around the rim, otherwise the pot is complete. It has a wide handle on one side. The item is red both outside and inside, dark grey/black where there is a break. The bottom is convex, with a marked transition to the upper half, which is concave. Baudou’s type XXVIII B3. Width: 8.9 cm (bottom). Height: c. 16.5 cm
Burnt bones, both human and animal bones (B7656/c)
Context: Found in a burial in a plowed grave with a diameter of 15-17 m and the height was approx. 1.5 m. A small stone chest of 0.5×0.25 m was found outside the center in the remains of the mound. It was filled with soil and charcoal and there was a small pot (B7656/a) in the middle. The pot contained B7656/b and cremated bones (B7656/c).
Location:
Grindheim (no. 75/1), Etne, Hordaland
Date:
Similar rake knives have been found in collections dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Massive shaft hole axe B7364. It is long and slender, the edge is curved, and there are marked grooves from the shaft hole to the egg. It has a short stem tube; the neck is round and has a flat collar. There is a raised rib on both card sides. Dark brown patina, much of which was dissolved when the ax was found; some were also removed by the finder in an attempt to polish the axe, especially on the broadsides. There are golden spots where it has been polished. Despite this, the decoration is still visible. About 1 cm from the edge there is a set of three parallel lines, then a border of running spirals and another set of parallel four or five parallel lines, starting and ending at the first and last spirals in the border below. There are possibly more lines below the spirals. This decoration is identical on both sides of the blade. The raised areas on both card sides were flanked by a line and a faint pattern of triangles. There is a triangular area of decoration below each shaft hole, consisting of parallel lines and beads. The shaft tubes were decorated with parallel lines and one tube also had a pattern of triangles. The neck was decorated with spiral borders with a line pattern and pearls below, between and above the spirals. The collar has a wave pattern below and lines and pearls on top. The neck would have had a line and bead pattern, indicated by the remaining patina around the collar. There are three identical parallels in Scandinavia: an ax from Nibstrup Mose, Denmark; from Villie, Scania, Sweden; from Lundby, Slöinge, Sweden. The ax is also similar to Montelius: Minnen fig. 866, 870 and 873. Johansen’s type C. Length: 34.5 cm, Width: 12.8 cm above the edge, Weight: 2248 g.
Context:
Found in or near a body of water in 1922 in connection with ditch digging; The ax was found in clay under approx. 1 m of soil in a marshy area. Water gushed up when it was found. The clay was blue with irr. The location is a field that slopes east towards a small water, Rimbareidjørna, between the seat house and a chapel; approx. 40 m from the chapel. There is a spring to the south of the discovery site. The archaeologist Johs Bøe visited the site shortly after the ax was discovered, but the ditch had then been filled in and the field sown.
Location:
Rimbareid (gnr. 62/3), Fitjar Hordaland
Date:
Such axes are dated to the Early Bronze Age Period 2.
Half of a twisted neck ring of the Wendel type (B6877/a) with sharp ribs. The end is missing. Green patina and heavily corroded. Diameter: c. 15.5 cm.
Complete twisted ring of type Wendel (B6877/b), with sharp ribs. It is broken in half and there is some wear on the flanges. Green patina. The ring is thinner than B06877/a. Diameter: 16 cm
Complete twisted ring of type Wendel (B6877/c). The ribs are less marked than on the other two rings, and the ring is thinner. Green patina, there is some corrosion. Diameter: c.15.5 cm.
Disc-head pin with multiple discs (B6877/d), consisting of five smaller discs connected by flat rods and arranged in a rectangle with one disc in the center and the other four forming the corners of the head. Each disc has a raised rib around the edge and a raised ring with a small boss in the middle. The central disc has a larger boss in the middle. A disc is broken off. The needle is bent at the top, so that the disc is attached vertically. Dark green patina and some corrosion. The rectangle rotates on the stick. The needle measures c. 10.5 cm, the rectangle measures 8×6 cm. Baudou’s type XXV B2 d.
Disc-head pin with multiple discs (B6877/e) consisting of five smaller discs connected by flat rods and arranged in a rectangle with one disc in the middle and the other four forming the corners of the head. Each disc has a raised rib around the edge and a raised ring with a small boss in the middle. The pin is missing, and one disk is missing, another disk is broken off, and a third disk was broken when it was found, but has been glued back onto the head. The boss on the center disc is smaller than on B6877/d, and there is more damage to the discs. The rectangle measures 7.5×6 cm. Baudous type XXV B2 d. Only three such staples are known, the third was found in a hoard at Vestby, Oppland county in Eastern Norway.
Context:
The collection was found in gravel under a rock in 1916, while land was being cleared to build a house. The location is close to the houses on the farm, about 7 meters above sea level.
Location:
Vikedal (number 77/41), Kvam, Hordaland
Date:
The collection can be dated to Late Bronze Age Period 6. Wendel rings have a general dating from Late Bronze Age Period 5 into the Early Iron Age, and although the needles are rare, they are generally dated to Period 6.
Pieces of copper alloy. Et lite flatt stykke oksidert kobberlegering; den er delvis oppløst. Det kan ikke fastslås om dette er skrapmetall eller var en del av en gjenstand.
Context:
Found in a mountain shelter at Ruskeneset, in a small bay next to a body of water. The site was excavated in 1914-16 and 1974, and consists of two small rock shelters (Ruskeneset I and II) approx. 8-10 m.a.s.l., placed approx. 50 m apart. Ruskeneset I was partially destroyed by road construction around 1900 and the site was discovered when some objects, including a stone axe, were found. The shelter measured 10 x 5 m, height unknown. Ruskeneset II measures 15x 6 m, height 15 m. There were two main phases, a late Neolithic phase in both rock shelters and a phase dated to the Iron Age in shelter II (Brinkmann and Shetelig 1920). The finds include bones from 66 species, shells, hooks, harpoons, arrowheads and flint daggers. However, the Late Neolithic layer also includes material indicating a Bronze Age phase: bifacial arrowheads with convex bases, the pieces of copper alloy, a sherd of a soapstone vessel. The culture layers at both shelters were assessed as homogeneous, despite several sterile layers. Human bones were also found: in shelter II, some bones were found scattered in the cultural layer, and some bones and teeth from a child were found under a stone of white quartz. The bones from three skeletons were found outside the main activity area of crisis center I. These were not professionally excavated. The piece of copper alloy was found in Ruskeneset II, and a small lump of bronze was also found (B06824/26). The latter was analyzed and contained copper, tin and nickel. The lump was destroyed in the process. A possible crucible (B6914/c) was found in a mound of earth at Ruskeneset I.
Location:
Ruskeneset under Søreide (no. 35/9), Bergen, Hordaland
Context:
Found in a field between the farmhouse and the road. There are no other details about the find. Other finds in the same field include a stone axe, a flint disc, flint chips and a slate tool, as well as axes from the Early and Younger Iron Age (Fett 1973). B6759, a spearhead from period 3, was found on the neighboring farm Nesbø.
Spearhead. Small and slender spearhead of the Hulterstad type. There is no decoration. The jaw has a round cross-section. Brown patina, there are some scratches and nicks; overall it is in good condition. Length: 13.6 cm. Width: 2.8 cm across the blade
Context:
Found in a bog during peat cutting. The spearhead was found in the soil that had been dug up, so there is no information about depth or other details. It had been found a few years before it was given to the museum in 1918. According to Per Fett (1973), the bog in question could either be a peat bog in the mountains, or a bog about 75 m NW of the farmhouse.
Location:
Nesbø (gnr. 60/2), Fitjar, Hordaland
Date:
Spearheads of the Hulterstad type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 3.
Disc-headed pin (B5962/a). The disc is decorated with three concentric rings around a small projection. The needle is slightly bent. Dark green patina. Baudou’s type XXV B 2b. Length: 13.1 cm. Width: 2 cm across the disc. Weight: 10 g.
Double button (B5962/b), consisting of two round plates connected by a short rod. The top plate is convex and has a border of dots around the edge. There are also two circles on one side of the plate, both faint and worn. Dark green patina. Length: 1.6 cm. Width: 2.7 cm. Weight: 8 g.
Half of a pair of tweezers (B5962/c), broken at the hoop. Straight sides, wider at the edge. Three parallel lines run from the hoop to the edge. These lines were discovered after the fragment was cleaned at the conservation laboratory. Dark green patina. The decoration is similar to Montelius: Minnen 1365. Length: 4.9 cm. Width: 0.5 cm (edge). Weight 2 g.
Razor (B5962/d) (possibly knife). Triangular, broad blade that ends in a short pincer. Part of the leaf is missing. Dark green patina. Length: 7.3 cm. Width: 2.8 cm. Weight: 9 g.
Context:
The objects were found in a burial in Vestbøstad. Røysen was one of a group of four at Kalveidet, excavated in 1905 (De Lange 1905). The dykes were placed in a slightly curved row from NE to SW by the islet, which is flat and cultivated. The Røys were located close to land in outlying areas and in small fields. One of the excavated piles had been disturbed earlier during the removal of stone used to build fences, and metal objects had been found and removed. The items were not delivered to the museum and are presumably lost. No other items were found. The cairn was large, about 25 m across and about 3.5 m high. Two stone chests were found; one was about 2 m long and built of large flat stones. There were no finds, although the size of the coffin suggests that this was an Early Bronze Age burial. The second coffin was found five m from the western edge of the cairn. It was built from six slabs, set on the base of the cairn, and measured 1×0.6 m. The cist contained ashes, large pieces of cremated bones and three bronze objects among the bones: a needle, a razor and a stud. A fourth object, one half of a pair of tweezers, was found outside and close to the coffin. The other half were not located.
Date:
The needle is of a type that usually dates to the Younger Bronze Age period 4 or transition to period 5. The double button is dated to period 4-5. Tweezers and plane have a general date to period 4-6.
Complete spearhead. A decorative line runs along the edge of the blade from the tip to the end of the blade. From the leaf down along the side of the plinth there is a decoration consisting of small horizontal lines. There are two rivet holes on either side of the plinth; both are decorated with a ring of radial lines. Some nicks on the edges of the blade, otherwise in good condition. Dark green patina, some of which has peeled off around the tip. Length: 28 cm. Width: 4.3 cm.
Context:
Found in a small gravel roof on a slope called Veabakken, in a very steep and rocky area about 200 m southeast of the farmhouse.
Location:
Tjeldflott (gnr.129/1), Etne, Hordaland
Date:
Similar spearheads are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
B05932/a: Fragments of a bronze object. The excavator, Haakon Shetelig, thought the fragments could have been a knife. As the fragments are flat and thin, it is possible that the object may have been a knife or razor, but this cannot be ascertained. The fragments are corroded.
B05932/b: Clay urn, fragmented, similar to Baudou’s type XXXVIII C 1. The fragments have been glued together. The ware is grey/brown, porous on the outside, and tempered with crushed quartz. There are remains of red on the outside. The urn has a wide, convex body and cylindrical neck. The body is decorated with a band of slanting parallel lines in groups, alternating between slanting to the right and left. There are two horizontal lines on top and below the band. The rim is not marked. The pot originally had a handle, which was broken before deposition, as a handle was not found in the grave. Height: 18 cm
B05932/c: Fragments of an urn. When found, the clay was damp and disintegrating. Grey ware, with remains of red on the outside. The clay is tempered with crushed quartz. The ware appears to have been somewhat better quality than B05932/b, with an even finish both on the inside and outside. Only part of the lower half of the pot can be reconstructed: it has a convex lower body, and narrows towards the neck. A possible parallel is Baudou XXVIII B 2.
B05932/d: Cremated bones.
Context:
Found in a cairn with two urns and cremated bones (B05932/b-d), located on a promontory, Straumstein, with a good view of the sea. The cairn contained three chambers: One inhumation grave and two smaller stone cists, one of which contained the two urns and cremated bones, and one which was empty. The cist was made from five slabs and two covering slabs, and measured 0.40 x 0.30 m. It was located in the centre of the cairn, a little higher than the other two burials. Marine sand was scattered on the bottom slab. One of the urns had disintegrated and the shards were mixed with the bones inside. The bronze fragments were found underneath. The other urn was in good condition, but had cracked and the contents spilt. The bronze object appears to have been deposed separately, rather than inside one of the urns. According to Per Fett (1954), the slabs must have come from Augastad.
Location:
Eide (gnr.83/3), Kvam, Hordaland
Date: Based on the urns and cremated bones as well as the size of the cist, the burial is dated to the Late Bronze Age, period 4-6.
Socketed axe, B5929. Slender axe of Norwegian variety, with loop and extended neck, of Baudou’s type B1 b. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs set parallel to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. The axe has an internal shaft support, and a hexagonal cross-section. The green patina has been partially removed and there are scratches consistent with patina removal, especially on the blade and on the neck. Length: 12.8 cm. Width: 4.9 cm.
Context:
The axe has been stored at the Rosendal Barony, no information on how, where or when it was found. Presumably it was found at the barony, or on one of the farms belonging to the barony in the Sunnhordland/Hardanger region.
Location:
Unknown farm in Kvinnherad, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Socketed axe, B5311. Large socketed axe with extended neck and loop. Green patina, partially removed on one side; this has partially flattened the ribs on that side. The axe has no internal shaft support, and has a hexagonal cross-section. Baudou’s type B1b, the Norwegian variant. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs set parallel to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. There is also a transverse rib under the socket, and the edge of the socket is marked with a rib. There is a large hole, about 0.8 cm across on one side, just above the three transverse ribs. Length: 13 cm. Width: 5.5 cm above the edge.
Context:
Found in a field under cultivation, about 15 cm deep, and 400 m SSE of the farmhouse. The exact location is no longer known.
Location:
Slæn (no. 331/1), Voss, Hordaland
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Riveted sword blade, broken at the handle. One nail hole is visible. The blade is golden and green, some brown spots; there are indications of modern sharpening and the patina is partially gone. One side has some irregularities, probably a casting error. The blade is wider in the middle and the edges taper towards the tip, which is partially broken. The central rib is flanked by three lines on each side. The blade is generally in good condition. Parallels: Montelius Minnen 901, 903 Length: 62.5 cm. Width: 3.1 cm across the middle part. Weight: 519 g.
Context:
The blade was found in a ditch in a peat bog, approx. 1893. The bog is located approx. 75 m W of the farmhouse, 35 m.a.s.l.
Location:
Sørvoll (no. 97/2), Bømlo, Hordaland
Date: Blades like this are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3. The sword is similar to Montelius Minnen 901, 903 and should probably be dated to Early Bronze Age period 2.
Two spiral bracelets B3426, made of coiled, flat bronze wire with a flat and slightly oval cross-section. Both are golden, the patina has been removed and both have scratches. The shortest ring has a broken end. Otherwise, the ends are flat and slightly rounded. Ring 1: Length approx. 9.5 cm, width 7 cm over the widest end. Ring 2: Length 10.5 cm, width 6.8 cm across the widest end. Photo: Svein Skare
Context:
The rings were found approx. 1.25 m deep in a peat bog, sometime before 1824. The rings were intertwined when they were found.
Location:
Kvamme (no. 89), Radøy, Hordaland
Date:
Spiral bracelets have a wide dating range. Rings with flat ends are dated to Younger Bronze Age period 4, according to Baudou 1960. Johansen (1993) dates the rings from Kvamme to Younger Bronze Age period 5. A probable dating is therefore Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Ax B03389. Massive four-sided axe with large shaft hole. The neck is convex and the edge is strongly curved. There is some damage: nicks and scratches on the sides and around the shaft hole. Irregularities in the metal are probably due to casting errors, and it is possible that the ax was made locally. Dark green, most of the patina has worn off. The axe is an undecorated axe of the Fårdrup type.
Context:
Found near a mountain called «Bendikshaug», during excavation, approx. 50-100 m from the farm. The axe was found in the soil that had been dug up and there is no further information on how it was originally deposited. There is a good view from the outcrop, which is located on a slope.
Tanged sword with guard and pommel, originally with organic hilt. The blade was broken and the fracture has been glued. Both the point and the tang are broken. There is a guard between the hilt and the blade, consisting of a crescent-shaped rib ending in three tongues on either side. The pommel is trapezoid and decorated with rings and grooves in relief; it might have been inlaid with organic material. Dark green, almost black patina, with red and golden patches. Length: 46 cm. Width: 3.4 cm across blade. Weight: 439 g, pommel weighs 33 g.
Context: The sword is reported to have come from a cairn near Fitjar Church, most likely the Rimsvarden cairn. This is a huge cairn with a diameter of 25 m and a height between 2 and 4 m, located on an outcrop 90 m.a.s.l. There are several craters in the cairn, which was opened by a local tavern owner (probably Bengt Magnussen (1743-1810)) ca. 1785. A cist was found near the bottom of the cairn; the cist was drywalled and covered by a large stone slab, measuring 1.9 x 0.6 m. A sword, dagger, and charcoal were found inside. There is no information as to what happened to the dagger.
Local tradition:
The sword found in Rimsvarden was used to cure illness and ease childbirth. If a patient was stroked with the blade, all would be well, while things would not go well if the patient was stroked with the point. The sword is likely to be B01825, which was handed in to the museum in 1866 with the information that it was found in a cairn near Fitjar church; however, the museum catalogue states that it came from a farm at Stord. According to Per Fett (1973), the tavern owner’s daughter was married to a man from this particular farm, and she was a midwife, so that it is likely that B01825 is in fact the sword found in Rimsvarden.
Sword B1008. Tongue-hilted sword, undamaged and in good condition. The shaft ends in a small tange, and there is a rivet hole on the shaft. Both sides of the shaft show signs of hammering. There are two rivets on the broad shoulder, below which is a marked indentation on each side of the blade. Two parallel sets of three lines run from the shoulder along the midrib almost to the tip of the point. Dark green patina, there are some golden spots especially on the center rib. It is an imported sword of the Mindelheim type (Jensen 1997), originating in Central Europe. Length: 80 cm
Context:
Found on a seder farm, Seberg, used for grazing by several farms, 450 m.a.s.l. The sword was stuck in a crack in an outcrop (although some sources say it was found between rocks). There is an outcrop with a large cup mark close by, as well as other cup mark places on the path that leads to a seat farm further up the mountain.
Location:
On the seat farm Seberg under Lekve (gnr. 49, 50), Ulvik, Hordaland
Dating:
Swords of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age, period 6.
Socketed axe, B1006. Large, square axe without loop. The axe is flattened and there is some damage around the mouth; it is broken on one side. The edges along the facets are slightly raised. There are two transverse ribs on the neck and a Y-shaped raised rib on the blade. Dark green patina; there are some golden spots due to attempts to sharpen the ax after it was found. Parallels: Montelius Minnen 993. Length: 10.4 cm. Width: 4.2 cm above the edge
Context:
The axe was found sometime before 1841, and was reported to have come from a burial according to the museum acquisition list (Lorange 1875). According to Per Fett (1954) it may have been found in the ground as a stray find, citing Christie 1838 «found in the ground». The farm is located at the northern end of Røldalsvatnet; the area is surrounded by mountains. Several mounds and cairns have been registered on the farm.
Context: Found in a cairn north of the island of Huglo on the farm Nordhuglo in 1885. The cairn was built on and around a natural rock and was 18-19 m in diameter and about 2 m high. A cist in the mound measured L 2.0 m W 0.4 m D 0.75 m. The cist was built in a natural pit in the rock and covered with two slabs. The dagger and a jaw bone were found inside, and the dagger was placed on the left side of where the body had lain. The jaw is lost and the coffin was destroyed in 1959. The cairn was not excavated by an archaeologist.
Date:
The dagger is similar to daggers dated to the Early Bronze Age, period 2.
