Small awl-like object, with a rectangular cross-section. Length: 3.5 cm
Location:
Hovland, location Urutlekråi, Årdal, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
The locality is in the mountains by Årdal in the Sognefjorden, on a gentle slope in the landscape, surrounded by peat and bog. The site was excavated in 1984-85. The finds were located on the hill and in the surrounding turf. Several hearths and pits filled with charcoal were found. Trenches filled with stone were interpreted as foundations for walls, and a house was also identified. It was oval and had a diameter of 4 m.
Dating:
Late Bronze Age or Early Pre-Roman Iron Age.
One half of a soapstone mould for a socketed axe. It is polished and semi-circular. There is a matching line on the bottom, and the parting is cut down near the top. There is also a V-shaped impression that runs from the top to the edge of the mouth. The shape is that of a small axe without a handle, slightly curved in with a straight edge, as well as a marked rib around the mouth. Length: c. 8 cm. Width: 5.5 cm bottom, 6 cm top
Location:
Eide (no. 65/4), Selje, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found during digging near an outcrop in peat soil, of approx. 30 cm depth. The location is close to the school fence, about 5 m above sea level
Dating:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Location:
Lavik (gnr. 73/1), Høyanger, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in a field, between the barn and an outbuilding. No other information.
Dating:
Parallels to this sword are hard to find. Miniature objects appear to be a Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age phenomenon, so a more precise date cannot be given.
Medium-sized socketed ax without loop. The axe is straight and has a slightly curved edge. No internal shaft support. The mouth is irregular and this is due to a casting error, and has an oval cross-section. A small area of the facet on one side has peeled off. Dark green patina, partially removed by the finder; the edge is polished. There is some corrosion. Length: 7.6 cm. Width: 4 cm above the edge
Location:
Hagen under Hove (gnr. 26/11, 27), Vik, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found on a terrace above the houses on the farm, close to the deserted homestead Hagen, in the early 20th century.
One half of a soapstone mould for a socketed axe. The shape is square and polished. There are matching lines near the top and bottom of the shape. Near the top there is a print consisting of three grooves on both sides, this part is cut back from the face, forming holes on both sides of the top. The shape is that of a small axe with a hole with a loop, slightly curved in and with a straight egg. The axe is decorated with four vertical and parallel depressions from the edge of the mouth and halfway down the blade. The axe hole is marked with a rib. Baudou’s type VII A 1 a (cf. Minnen fig. 1059-1060). Length: c.9.5 cm. Width: 4 cm bottom, 5 cm top
Location:
Skjeldestad (no. 63/5), Sogndal, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in an outbuilding, no information on how or when it was first found.
Dating:
Axes of this type, with two or more vertical and parallel depressions, are dated to period 4 (Baudou 1960:18).
Two fragments of twisted ring of Wendel type, with sharp ribs. Some of the ribs are broken. One end is missing, otherwise the ring is complete. The ring was broken before deposition, and repaired by drilling holes on both sides of the break and threading a leather thong through them. When the ring was found and handed in to the museum, the strap was still attached to the ring, but has now been removed. There is a small piece of bronze near the break, which appears to be a later addition or possible repair, as there is a small crack in the ribs here. Dark green patina, corroded in places. Width: 17.5 cm. B7000/a.
Four fragments of twisted ring of Wendel type, with sharp ribs, similar to B7000/a. The fragments may be from one or possibly two rings, although the shape and patina indicate that the fragments are from one ring. Dark green patina, the fragments are corroded. Some ribs are damaged. The fragments measure approx. 17 cm, 9.5 cm, 6 cm and 6.2 cm. Width: c. 18 cm. B7000/b.
Two fragments of twisted ring of Wendel type, with sharp ribs. The fragments are thinner than B7000/a-b. Green patina, corroded and possibly burnt. The fragments measure 6 and 6.3 cm. B7000/c.
Arm ring with trumpet-shaped ends. It has a rhombic cross-section. Dark green patina. Similar to Baudou’s type XIX D 1 a. Width: c. 7 cm. B7000/d.
Pin with disc-shaped head. The needle itself is missing and part of the head is damaged. It has a conical point in the middle, surrounded by five concentric rings in relief. Part of the needle, where it is attached to the head, is preserved. Dark green patina. Baudou’s type B 2 c (Härnavi type). Width: c. 7.5 cm. B7000/e.
Fragment of a spectacle-shaped fibula, fragment of an oval disc. It is decorated with kidney-shaped concentric relief bands. The outer edge has a line decoration consisting of oblique lines; and between this border and the first relief band there is a border of small dots. Baudou’s type XXIV E 3a. Like Montelius Minnen fig. 1345. Width: c. 11 cm. B7000/f.
Location: Skjerdalen (no. 35/1), Gloppen, Sogn & Fjordane
Context: Found near a large rock, approx. 30 cm deep, on a rocky slope approx. 200-300 m.a.s.l. The area has high mountains and steep mountain sides. There was a circular area of dark blue or black soil where the objects were found, and this may have been urns or possibly the remains of a container, e.g. wood or leather.
Dating: The collection is dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6. The needle and fibula are dated to period 5-6, the bracelet probably period 6, and the Wendel rings are period 6.
Fragment of a twisted ring of the Wendel type, approx. half. It is thin and has sharp grooves. The fragment is bent slightly out of shape. Green patina, which is mostly dissolved and there is some corrosion. Width: c. 16.5 cm. B5793/a.
Fragment of a twisted ring of the Wendel type, approx. half. It has sharp ribs and is wider than B05793/a. Green patina, which is partially dissolved and there is some corrosion, as well as some white/brown areas – possibly signs of scorching. Width: c. 14 cm. B5793/b.
Fragment of a twisted ring of the Wendel type. It has sharp ribs and resembles B5793/b. The fragment is bent out of shape. Where it thins towards the end, there is a square section of wide ribs; The ring then becomes thinner towards the end. This may be a repair, although it appears that the ring was originally cast this way. Green patina, which is partially dissolved and there is some corrosion, as well as some white/brown areas. Width: c. 17.4 cm. B5793/c.
Location:
Årdalen /Erdalen (gnr. 21/9), Stryn, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found under or near some stones on a ledge in a mountain in the 1870s-80s, while the finder was building a garden wall with stones that had fallen onto the edge. The objects were accidentally covered with soil and reappeared some 20 years later when a house was built nearby. The soil contained charcoal.
Dating:
Wendelringer has a general dating from the Late Bronze Age period 5 into the Early Iron Age; this collection is dated to period 5-6.
Context:
Found in the ground, possibly in a natural mound, during the digging of a ditch approx. 200 m WNW of the farmhouse. It was apparently found with B4589, a whetstone.
Date:
Similar axes are dated to Early Bronze Age period 3, Younger Bronze Age period 4 is also likely.
Fibula with flat hourglass-shaped pin head, and spiral ending of the bow. Both the pin and the bow are broken in two; part of the bow is missing. Green patina, most of the pin and bow are corroded. Parallels: Montelius Minnen fig. 974. Length: c. 11 cm
Location:
Svanøy (no. 117), Flora, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in a stone cist in a mound in 1842 at Svanøy Hovedgård on Svanøy. There were traces of a woolen fabric on the fibula when it was found, the fabric is gone. The coffin also contained around 50 small egg-shaped stones, described as marble. Five stones were apparently brought to the museum but are now lost. No information about the construction of the mound or cist.
Date:
Fibulae with hourglass pin heads date to Early Bronze Age Period 2, although they also continue in use into Period 3.
B14186/21: Fragment of a small grey soapstone mould. The mould is broken at both ends. The cavity is for a possible arrowhead, similar to Baudou’s Lanzetten type V A (1960), alternatively a knife/dagger. Length: 3.7 cm. Width: 1.9-2.1 cm
B14186/24: Small fragment of bronze, bent into an angle. It could possibly have come from a weapon, e.g. a spearhead or sword/dagger (Engedal 2010), although this cannot be determined. Found in layer VI, dated to LN II. Length: 5.5 mm.
B14186/25: Rivet head. The top is conical and somewhat worn. Underneath, there are two casting seams radiating from the centre to the edge. The pin is broken and missing, but would have been thin. Found on top of layer VIII, dated to LN I-II based on diagnostic finds. Width: 6.9 mm
B14186/26: Fragment of bronze object, most likely an axe that has been chopped up for re-melting. The fragment is rectangular and massive, the original surface is visible. On one side there is a small round indentation, probably remains of the original decoration. There are two deep grooves, possibly chop marks. Found between layer VI and V, dated to LN II-EBA II. Measurements: 24.5 x 14.3 x 12.5 mm
Location:
Ve, Årdal, Parish and Fjordane
Context:
Found in a large mountain shelter, Skrivarhelleren, in Moadalen, 790 m.a.s.l. in the inner part of the Sognefjord. Helleren was excavated in 1987-1989, and a rich collection of faunal remains and organic material, as well as stone and flint objects, was found. Among the finds are amber and bone beads, bone needles, awls, slate and bone pendants, pottery, bifacial arrowheads, bone arrowheads, fragments of stone axes and fragments of flint daggers. Seven main layers were identified, and the bronze fragments were found in layers VIII (B14186/25), VI-V (B14186/26) and VI (B14186/24), while the mold was found in layer IV (Prescott 1991). In addition, several small bronze fragments were found in ocher samples taken from a hearth at the same level as B14186/26, which had been exposed to 1100-1200ºC, indicating metallurgical activity (Prescott 1991). The slab was used from the Late Neolithic to the Iron Age.
Date:
Based on the stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating, the bronze fragments are dated to LN II – Early Bronze Age period 2. The shape is from a layer that was dated to the Younger Bronze Age.
Location:
Olset (gnr. 30/1), Askvoll, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found on a field on a slope, Kvernhusbakken, in the 1940s; the location is 40-50 m SW of the barn and 10 m NW of a stream. The area was excavated by Egil Bakka in 1971, but no other discoveries were made.
Date:
Egil Bakka dated the form to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3. It is difficult to give a more precise dating as both the point and the attachment are missing.
B11924/a: Complete soapstone mould for a socketed axe. Each valve has a polished, semi-circular finish; traces of work on the mould can be seen. One half is complete; the other is fragmented and glued together. One half has two notches, one on either side, that probably are matching lines. There are three knobs on the parting face, two on each side below the loop and transverse ribs, and one beneath the edge, and corresponding holes on the other valve. There is a core print at the top: a vertical groove on both valves, although one is wider than the other. The cavity is blackened. The axe cavity is for a large axe, about 12.3 cm, with a loop and three parallel transverse ribs, similar to Baudou’s type VII C 1 a, except that it is longer. The sides are parallel and the edge is straight. Length: c. 17.2 cm. Width: c. 7.6 cm
B11924/b: Fragmented soapstone mould for a socketed axe; the fragments are glued together. Only a few pieces are missing. This damage is partly ancient as one of the fragments is clearly eroded by water. The mould is rectangular. There are matching lines on the bottom and sides of each half. The top has core prints consisting of a wide vertical groove and two round depressions on one half, the round depressions cannot be ascertained on the other half as this area is damaged. The cavity is partly blackened. The cavity is for a large axe with loop and marked rim around the socket as well as two transverse ribs beneath. It has straight, parallel sides and a straight edge, and the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. The blade is decorated: a Y-shaped rib and two vertical and rectangular depressions running halfway down the blade. Baudou’s type VII A 2 a. A mould from Katteskalla, Sweden is a close parallel (Montelius, Minnen fig. 1067). Length: 17.6 and 17.7 cm. Width: c. 7.5 cm
B11924/c: Flint disc. Grey flint, fine retouch along two sides. Length: 4.9 cm. Width: 3.9 cm
Location:
Nyhamar (gnr.114/1), Gulen, Sogn og Fjordane
Context: One half was found in a pile of gravel after the local road was built, about 30-35 m from land. The gravel came from a ditch or culvert that was dug under the road. The remaining parts of the two molds as well as a flint disk (B11924/c) were found during two subsequent excavations. One half of B11924/a and some fragments of B11924/b were found in situ in gravel next to several large stones. The fragments that were found before the excavations were probably a few centimeters above the in situ find, according to the report (Bakka 1965). The area is on a slope where there has been trickling water or possibly a stream, and the trench was dug in the direction of the water. The forms and the flint disk were most likely disposed of together.
Date: Both moulds are for large axes, suggesting an early date. The decoration on B11924/b points to period 4, while B11924/a could be dated to period 3 or 4.
Bronze axe with curved, semi-circular blade and flat neck (B3295/a). Low arches from the blade to the neck. According to the finder, the axe had the remains of a wooden handle. There is no trace of it now. It has a green patina, the edge has been sanded in modern times, and there is some corrosion on the arches. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: 22.3 cm Width: 10 cm across the widest part of the blade.
Bronze axe with curved, semicircular blade (B3295/b). The axe is broken in two and part of the neck and neck are missing. This appears to be old damage, before the closure of the axe, as indicated by marks around the break. Low arches from the blade, presumably to the neck. There is some corrosion and damage to the arches, there are also signs of hammering. Dark green patina, some golden spots and the edge has been sharpened in modern times. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: c. 16 cm. Width: 8.8 cm across the widest part of the blade.
Location:
Steine (gnr. 18), Aurland, Sogn and Fjordane
Context:
Found in a clock, Grimuri, at Låvisberget by the water near the road to the sommerstølen. According to the finder, the axes and bracelet were lying on a large stone, possibly covered by smaller stones and soil.
Date:
The collection of finds dates to the Early Bronze Age period 1. Axes of this type are old and should be placed in the Early Bronze Age period 1b. The arm brace has few parallels, but those that exist are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1.
