Twisted neck ring of the Wendel type, with sharp ribs. It has a golden brown patina and has minor damage to the ribs. Width: 16 cm
Location:
Unknown farm and municipality, Telemark
Context:
Found before 1897 in Telemark county, Eastern Norway. No other information.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 6
Socketed axe with extended neck and no loop. The edge is curved and wide. The ax has an internal shaft support. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section, while the mouth is oval. It is corroded although some patches of dark green patina remain. Length: 5.3 cm. Width: 4.4 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Unknown farm and municipality in Norway
Context:
Unknown
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Twisted neck ring with two oval plates. The ring is twisted in one direction. The ends would most likely have been spirals; they were broken by the finder. The oval plates are decorated: first a set of vertical parallel lines ending in a border of striated lines at the beginning of each plate. Around the edges of the plates there is a border of striped lines and a wave pattern, in the center there are parallel horizontal lines and a row of striped lines, flanked by a row of C-shapes on each side. There is another set of vertical parallel lines at the transition to the lock. The patina is green, with minor damage and corrosion. Width: c. 21 cm. Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Unknown farm, Sandefjord, Vestfold
Context:
Unknown
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5
Small axe without a loop. The sides are parallel, curved out at the edge, which is slightly curved. The ax has a hexagonal cross-section and there is no internal shaft support. There is some modern damage to the blade. The surface is rough, golden brown. Length: c. 7 cm. Width: 4.4 cm across the blade. Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Austrått, Ørland, Sør-Trøndelag
Context:
Found on a field in 1861. No other information.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
Large socketed axe with loop and Y-shaped decoration. It has straight parallel sides and a convex edge that curves outwards. There is no internal shaft support. The edge is partially damaged due to modern sharpening; there is some damage along one side and around the mouth of the socket. There is a transverse rib below the socket, which has an oval cross-section. The blade has a wide Y-shaped rib and two almost rectangular depressions on either side of the Y. Length: c. 11.7 cm. Width: c. 4.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Unknown farm and place, in Norway.
Context:
Unknown
Dating:
The shape is similar to axes from the Early Bronze Age period 2, but the decoration indicates period 3, possibly period 4.
Small socketed ax with remnants of a loop and rectangular recesses. The ax has straight parallel sides and a straight egg. The muzzle is partially damaged, and the hem is missing. Hexagonal cross-section; the ax has no internal shaft support. There are four rectangular vertical and parallel depressions on the blade, starting just below the mouth of the base and halfway down the blade, ending in a transverse bevel. It is heavily corroded, only a few patches of green patina remain. Length: c. 7.8 cm. Width: 2.7 cm above the edge.
Location:
Unknown farm and place in Norway
Context:
Unknown
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
Three fragments of a riveted sword. There are six rivet holes; the bottom two holes are almost gone as the shaft plate is damaged around the edge. There is a marked midrib, and the blade widens before tapering and converging towards the tip, which is missing. The fragments are heavily corroded, although some patches of green patina remain. The sword is a Sögel type. Current length: 28.6 cm (B05469/a)
Complete palstave with long and slender blade and decoration, a so-called weapon palstave. The ax is heavily corroded. However, faint remains of decoration can be seen on the side facets and blade. There are parallel horizontal lines and oblique lines (possibly hatched triangles) on the sides of the neck. The transition to the blade is marked with parallel horizontal lines and a rib, and on the blade there is a triangle or Y shape consisting of double lines. The sides of the blade are marked with ribs. Both neck and edge are damaged. Length: c. 17 cm. Width: 3.8 cm above the edge. B05469/b)
Location:
Vanse, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Context:
No information about the find.
Dating:
Early Bronze Age period 1-2
Sword with tang and with narrow blade, short tang and marked shoulders. There is a marked midrib. The tip is missing, and the blade is broken in two. The tang and shaft plate are corroded. Current length: 32.6 cm
Location:
Lista lighthouse, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Context:
Found in the ground near Lista lighthouse, no other information.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 5
Coiled spiral arm ring, made of two gold threads. The ends are twisted.
Location:
Lista, exact area unknown, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Context:
Probably found in a pile at Lista, although the exact location is unknown. The ring was bought from a jeweler in Stavanger.
Dating:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Fragmented bar stud (rod-shaped button). The rod is broken on both sides, one fragment is preserved. Total length of the longest side is 5 cm. The bar has faint traces of vertical parallel lines. The hole is oval. The rod pin is heavily corroded and it measures 3.6 x 2.6 cm. The fragment measures 2.8 cm.
Location:
Lunde, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Context:
Found in a mound, among charcoal and burnt bones. There is no information about a possible coffin, or in which part of the mound it was found. The mound is identified as No. VIII on the map of the mounds at Lunde (Ab. 1877:99). According to the catalogue, a clay bead (B04139) was also found in the mound (Ab.1882).
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 5
Fragment of a disc-headed pin, only the disc remains. The disc is small and flat, the edges are broken. There is a small central boss surrounded by three concentric rings in relief, part of a fourth ring can be seen in the rim. The disc is heavily corroded and fragmented; part of the middle is missing, and smaller fragments are glued together. Width: c. 3.3 cm. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Østre Hauge, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Context:
Found in a mound, «Sverreshaug», with cremated bones between some stones and covered by a stone layer, about 2 m from the top of the mound. It was a large and thin layer of charcoal and cremated bones. The mound measured 84 m in circumference and 6 m high. There was an inner pile of round stones covering a rampart that was empty except for a layer of sandy soil on top of small yellow beach stones. Above the central grave were two layers of sand and soil, then a layer of stones, below which the secondary grave containing the needle was found, then two layers of sand and soil. There is no mention of a burial chamber.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
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.
Small socketed axe without a loop. The base is partially missing due to corrosion and casting failure as there was not enough metal, and there are holes and bubbles in the metal. It has an internal shaft support. The edge is slightly curved and the sides are parallel. The ax has a brown patina and some golden spots. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Myklebust (no. 74/6), Selje, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found during peat digging in a bog, approx. 1 m deep and 80 m.a.s.l. No other information is available.
Dating:
A dating to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6 is likely.
Fragment of a spearhead, only the tip is preserved. Small, round base, with vertical indentations on both sides, defining the leaves. The recesses have a V-shaped cross-section. There are signs of hammering along the eggs. Golden brown patina, some corrosion. An Ananino spearhead. The recesses on each side of the socket are unparalleled within the Nordic Bronze Age area. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Sørheim (mountains), Luster, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found on the mountain, on the edge of a patch of snow.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 4-6.
Small spearhead with narrow blades and wide base. The socket has an oval cross-section. A large piece of one blade is missing, and the base is damaged. Dark green patina. Some scratches and attempts to remove the patina, it has been removed on one side of the socket. Length: 9.2 cm Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Jamnåkre (gnr. 31/1), Årdal, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found approx. 0.5 m deep in a field, Brubakken, approx. 150 m north-east of the farmhouse.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
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.
Miniature sword, with hilt and pommel, cast in one piece. The blade is straight and a central rib runs the length of the sword from the pommel to the tip. The pommel is flat and oval. Brown patina, otherwise the sword is complete and undamaged. Length: c. 9.9 cm Width: 0.5 cm Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Dating:
Younger Bronze Age period 4
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).
Flanged axe with curved, semi-circular blade and flat neck. Low edging from the blade to the neck. The axe is broken in two and the neck is missing; this is old damage that happened before deposition. The edge is polished and sharpened again. Green, most of the patina is gone and there are golden spots showing where the axe has been polished in modern times. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: c. 11.5 cm Width: c. 7 cm across the widest part of the blade. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Kvåle (gnr. 23), Sogndal, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in the ground, no other information about when or where.
Dating:
Axes of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1.
Chisel with round socket and square cross-section. There are some scratches and nicks, and some recent damage to the edge. Green patina. Length: 13.5 cm. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Årnes (no. 35/1), Stryn, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found under a slab in sandy peat soil on a slope leading to a roadside ditch. The discovery was made one meter down the slope.
Dating:
Similar chisels are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
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.
Fragment of a twisted ring of the Wendel type, approx. half. The ring is thinner than the other three, and has narrow twists and less marked grooves. Green, most of the patina has dissolved. Width: c. 17.5 cm. B5793/d. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Long and slender riveted dagger with central rib, two rivet holes (only one rivet hole is preserved) and one rivet. There is some damage to the sides of the blade as well as the surface of the handle. The preserved rivet is approx. 1.5 cm long including the heads, which are approx. 1.3-1.5 cm wide. There are also two nails or pins not mentioned in the museum catalogue, one broken measuring approx. 2.7 cm and one that could have been part of a rivet measures approx. 1.5 cm. It is uncertain whether these two nails belong to the find. Dark green lustrous patina, partially removed at the tip which has been sharpened in modern times. There is some corrosion on both sides of the blade. Length: 22.3 cm. Width: 2.2 cm across the widest part of the blade. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Æri (gnr. 20/8), Lærdal, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in gravel by a stream, approx. 200 m NW of the farmhouse, just above the road.
Dating:
The dagger is dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1.
Medium socketed axe without loop. The ax is slightly curved and has a curved edge. There is a horizontal rib around the rim of the socket, and another rib about 0.5 cm below. The socket is oval, while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. There is no internal shaft support. Along one facet on the side there are three holes and a crack, plus a small hole between the two ribs. This is a casting fault as the metal is very thin here. Molding seams are marked along the sides. The color is golden brown, the patina has been removed. The ax does not appear to have been used. Length: c. 9 cm. Width: 3.5 cm above the edge Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Indre Oppedal (no. 117), Gulen, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Reported to have been found in a mound, no other information is available.
Date:
The size and shape may indicate a dating to the Early Bronze Age period 3, or the Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Small socketed ax without a loop, with straight sides and a straight edge. There is one transverse rib below the socket and possibly a rib marking the rim of the socket. There is no internal shaft support. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section. The socket and part of the blade are missing on one side of the axe; as the metal is very thin here it is likely that this is due to a failed casting. There is also a hole in one of the side facets. Some damage to the edge and around the socket, mostly old damage. Green patina, although the axe has been polished and most of the patina removed. There is some corrosion. Length: 7.4 cm Width: 3.2 cm above the edge. Photo: Ann Mari Olsen © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Vevik (no. 57/1), Eid, Sogn & Fjordane
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.
Flanged ax with curved, semi-circular blade and flat neck. Low flanges from the blade to the butt. The ax is broken in two; this is old damage and was done before deposition. The edge of the blade has been sharpened in modern times. There are some bubbles in the metal on one side of the axe. Dark green patina, some golden areas showing through. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: 16.5 cm. Width: 7.6 cm Photo: Adnan Icgaci © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Håheim (no. 93/1), Stryn, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found under a flat stone at Flotaplassen in the 1850s. No other information.
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1
Small socketed axe with loop and extended neck. The loop is broken and missing, this looks like old damage. There is a transverse rib around the socket, starting and ending at the top of the loop. The axe has an internal shaft support. The edge of the blade is straight, and one side of the axe curves more than the other, so that the blade is lopsided. The socket has an oval cross-section while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. Green patina, the edge of the blade has been polished and ground in modern times. Baudous type VII C 3. Length: 6.7 cm. Width: c. 4.8 cm across the blade. Photo: Olav Espevoll© University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Måren (gnr. 64), Høyanger, Sogn & Fjordane
Context:
Found in a field, no other information.
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6
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.
Complete spearhead point, with narrow, convex blades. There are transverse parallel lines around the socket, and a rib around the mouth of the socket. Two parallel lines run along the edge of the blades from the rivet holes to the point. Golden, slightly rough surface. Gunderslev type. Length: 17.9 cm Remains of an ash shaft were found inside the shaft.
Location:
Hiksdal (gnr. 74/3), Vindafjord (formerly Ølen), Rogaland
Context:
Found in a potato patch, about 30 m from the small hill where B11805 was found.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Large socketed axe with parallel sides and slightly curved edge, without loop. There is no internal shaft support. The mouth and the upper part of the blade are damaged on one side. The damage appears to be the result of a casting error, as the metal is thin here, and there are small holes and bubbles in the metal. The mouth is round/oval while the blade has a hexagonal cross-section. There are three transverse ribs below the edge of the mouth. The leaf has a net-like pattern of small rhombic shapes. Similar to Baudou’s type VII C 1 a. Length: 11.2 cm. Width: 3.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Hiksdal (gnr. 74/3), Vindafjord (formerly Ølen), Rogaland
Context:
Found during work in a bog area, «Knattahaugane», for cultivation approx. 40 m E of the farmhouse. There was a small hill in the middle of the marsh covering a large round stone which was removed. The ground measured approx. 2 x 1.5 m.; The stone had a diameter of approx. 1 m. The following year, B11805 was found where the ground had been. There has occasionally been a water source in the area.
Date:
The size suggests period 3, while the shape suggests period 4, i.e. the transition between the older and younger Bronze Age.
Shaft hole axe with decoration. Long and slender axe with conical butt; the edge is curved. The edge is damaged and a hole or cavity is visible. Ribs run from the shaft hole to the edge decorated with two parallel lines. The blade has no other decoration, while the side facets have a row of nine spirals starting in the pattern below the shaft holes. There are groups of transverse parallel lines interspersed with vertical lines between the shaft holes, and there is a similar pattern of horizontal and vertical lines below the shaft hole. The neck has two sections of intersecting lines, separated by transverse parallel lines, and there are transverse lines below the collar. There are two ribs decorated with vertical parallel lines below the neck collar, and on top there are vertical and horizontal lines and two rows of triangles. The conical butt has horizontal and striped lines, and in the middle there is a small pin, which has horizontal and vertical lines. The shaft hole is somewhat damaged, and ends in ribs decorated with oblique lines. The upper part of the hole has striped lines, while the lower part has none. The brown patina has partially dissolved. Length: 24.5 cm Width: 6.3 cm above the edge Weight: 961 g
Photo: Adnan Icagic © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Lunde, Vindafjord (formerly Ølen), Rogaland
Context:
Found in a water spring, «Slettakjelda», near a landslide, where two other axes were also found B10300/a-b during work at the water spring. The ax was found during the completion of a water pipe. It is likely that the three axes were laid down together, although this cannot be determined.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Palestave with a long, slender and decorated blade. The edge is damaged. The sides are decorated: triangles, parallel horizontal lines followed by triangles or zigzags and parallel vertical lines. The transition to the blade: vertical and horizontal parallel lines. There is a triangle of striated lines at the top of the blade, surrounded by two grooves that follow the blade from top to edge. Most of the brown patina has dissolved, some remains on the blade and sides. Length: c. 20 cm
Location:
Hove, Lund, Rogaland
Context:
Found in 1905 while the finder was clearing a field. It was found under some rocks.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Dagger. It has a triangular hilt plate, the blade has a marked center rib, and there are some notches along the sides. The blade is corroded. Length: 26.3 cm. B5952/a.
Small razor with horse head-shaped handle. The blade is curved, the end is broken. The handle is long, slender and curved, and ends in a horse’s head. There is no other decoration. Length: c. 7 cm. B5952/b.
Complete fibula with disc-shaped head and spiral ends. There is weak decoration on the hoop: slanted, twisted lines. The fibula is heavily corroded. Length: 9.7 cm. B5952/c.
Double button, consisting of two disks connected by a short rod. The upper plate is domed and decorated: a star in the center, surrounded by parallel lines. Part of the disc is damaged. The double button is corroded. Width: 2.7 cm. B5952/d.
Decorated tweezers. The bow is broken. There is a thin line and two rows of triangles running from the bow to the mouth of the tweezers. The decoration is weak due to wear and corrosion. Length: 9.3 cm. B5952/e.
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Gunnarshaug, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound, «Kubbhaug», excavated by Shetelig and Brøgger in 1905. The mound was 17 x 2.7 m and was built of earth, with a layer of round stones at the bottom. The remains of a disturbed curb could be seen near the edge of the mound. An inner coffin was found NW of the centre, it measured 3.5 x 2.7 m, height 0.85 m. The coffin covered a brick chamber, 1.8 x 0.6 m, 0.4 m deep. The bottom was covered with small stones and bark. A cranium was found at the northern end of the coffin, other bones were found in the middle.
Date:
The collection can be dated to the Early Bronze Age period 3.
Razor with curved blade. Similar to Baudou’s type XI B 2b; the handle is broken and missing. The razor is corroded. Length: 8.5 cm. B5875/a.
Burnt bones. B5875/b.
Fragment of shell (bucino undatum). B5875/c.
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Storasund, Haugesund, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a pile around 1904. The pile was 22 m across. There was a stone chest north of the middle of the mound, it was built of boulders and measured 0.85 x 0.40 m. There is no information about the location of the find in the chest.
Date:
The razor is dated to the younger bronze age period 4-5.
Fibula with an hourglass-like shape on the head and spiral ends. Most of the needle is missing; the loop is broken at one end. The fibula is heavily corroded. Length: 9.5 cm. B5765/a.
Small frame-handled knife with an oval, flat end. The tip is missing. The blade is asymmetrical. The knife is green and corroded. Length: 9 cm. B5765/b.
Flange-hilted sword. The blade has a marked, round central rib. The sides are damaged and the tip is broken. The shaft is broken, one fragment is preserved. There are two rivets on the top of the blade, and four rivets on the shaft. The wear on the blade indicates that the shaft was crescent-shaped. The sword is heavily corroded. Length: c. 30 cm. B5765/c.
A collection of bones (no museum number).
Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Storasund, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound in 1902. The burial was documented by an amateur archaeologist while the landowner removed the mound, which measured 20 x 2.5 m. A stone coffin was found at the bottom of the mound; it measured 1.9 x 0.45 m and was 0.46-0.47 m deep, built of four large slabs and covered by two slabs. The bottom was covered with stones with a layer of beach sand and moss on top. Inside were unburnt bones, a fibula (B5765/a) and a knife (B5765/b). The fibula was found in the center of the grave, one end in the sand, while the knife was found in the southern end. A sword (B5765/c) was found in the fill about 0.5 m from the top of the mound. An iron sickle and burnt bones were reportedly found in this mound.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Two fragments of a dagger with pincers, each fragment broken into smaller fragments which are glued together. The blade has an oval cross-section, the sides are damaged, and the tip is missing. The tang is broken. A crescent-shaped discoloration at the transition to the tang indicates the shape of the shaft. There are remains of a golden brown patina on one side. Current length: 20.8 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Gunnarshaug, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound, «Kjørkhaug», in 1896 or earlier. It was found in the western part of the mound, there is no other information about the find. The mound was later excavated by Shetelig and A.W. Brøgger in 1905. They opened a trench to the middle of the mound, and found seven small cairns, without finds or burials. Flint chips and a flint blade were found in the excavated masses, as well as charcoal.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Small palstave with short blade. The blade has Y-shaped decoration, with two short grooves. The blade has a curved edge, and has been ground again. There is some damage to the edge. There are remains of a brown patina; otherwise the ax is green and corroded. Length: c. 10.8 cm Width: 3.4 cm
Location:
Time farm, Time, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground near Time railway station.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Four fragments of a tanged sword with sword knob. The blade has a rounded midrib, with a raised rib on each side that is concave at the top of the blade. The pliers consist of eight bronze discs. The handle is rounded towards the blade in a crescent shape that has relief decoration, and the outer edge of the crescent has slanted lines. The shaft has five rivets. The sword button is oval with a round central pin surrounded by eight rings in relief. The tip of the blade is missing. Length: 43 cm
Location:
Bø, Karmøy, Rogaland.
Context:
Found in «Knaghaug» in 1893; the mound was partially destroyed and the sword was found under a slab near the top of the remaining mound. Shetelig excavated the remaining pile in 1907, and found stones and charcoal, probably a broken stone coffin. At the bottom he found a boat-shaped stone setting, 3 x 2 m. It consisted of round beach stones on a layer of boulders. At the eastern end there was a standing slab on a slab layer on top of a layer of yellow sand. There was a layer of stones under the sand, sitting on the ground.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Razor knife with asymmetric wide blade, handle broken and missing. The end is straight and has been damaged. The blade is golden brown and there are marks along the back and edge that correspond to the bronze shroud found in the burial. Similar to Baudou’s type XI B 1a. Length: 6.4 cm. B5003/a.
Thin bronze plate, razor-shaped, the ends folded on three sides. The folds correspond to marks on the planer, which indicates that this is a sheath/case for the planer. Length: c.7.5 cm. B5003/b.
Incomplete clay flat urn. Brown ware, no decoration apart from two holes on one side (face). The urn has been reconstructed from ceramic shards found in the grave. Double conical body and flat bottom. Width: 14.5 cm (bottom), 20 cm (top) Height: c. 18 cm. B5003/c.
Incomplete clay urn. Brown goods, no decoration. The urn has been reconstructed from ceramic shards found in the grave. Double conical body and flat bottom. Width: 15.5 cm (bottom), 18 cm (top) Height: c. 11 cm. B5003/d.
There is also a lid. The lid is round and reconstructed from fragments in the grave. It is not clear which urn it originally belonged to. Width: c. 11 cm. B5003/e.
In addition, there is a box marked B5003, which contains sherds from at least two pots plus a piece of gray flint. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Bø, Hå, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound, «Dyrhaug», excavated by Gustafson in 1892-93. The mound was 22 m across and had a height of about 3.5 m. There was an inner cairn, 11-12 m x 2.5 m, covered with soil and a layer of stone. A large coffin was found in the center of the mound, containing some fragments of a skull and some teeth, probably an Early Bronze Age burial. The side of the ditch collapsed the following year, revealing a small coffin, 45 x 35 cm, 35 cm deep, built of boulders, about 3 m east of the central pit and higher up in the mound, about 1 m below the top. It contained B5003a-d and cremated bones. A stone coffin containing bones is said to have been found near the edge of the mound a few years earlier.
Date:
The razor is dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5. The urns are dated to period 5.
Three fragments of a riveted dagger. The blade has a marked midrib, with parallel sides that taper and converge towards the tip. A rivet hole can be seen on the shaft plate. The blade is heavily corroded and the sides are damaged. Current length: approx. 18.5 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Re, Time, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound excavated by Gustafson. A stone coffin was found in the middle of the mound, about 70-90 cm below the top. The coffin was built of stone and measured 2.5 x 0.45-0.50 cm and was filled with soil. The dagger was found in the middle of the coffin, about 30 cm from the northern end. One of the top slabs had a bowl pit below, i.e. facing the inside of the last.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Fibula with round head and loop with spiral end. Both spirals are broken, one is preserved. The fibula is heavily corroded. Length: c.9.9 cm. B5000/a.
Dagger with button, fragments of bone, wooden sheath and bark. The blade is green and corroded, with straight, parallel sides and a marked midrib. The tip is broken. The blade expands towards the hilt, which has a tongue-shaped shank plate with three rivet holes. There is a rivet in the top rivet hole. Length: 25.5 cm. The handle button is round/oval with a central round pin surrounded by a border of vertical, parallel lines and six spirals. The mouth is partially damaged. Width: c. 4 cm Fragments of a bone shaft are preserved. According to the report, the party ended in a crescent shape; there were two (false?) rivets in addition to the three rivets corresponding to the holes in the shaft plate, and the remains of a loop near the handle knob. Fragments of a wooden scabbard, found under the dagger. One of the fragments has a hole and a bronze nail still embedded. The longest wood fragments are approx. 11.5 cm; there is corroded bronze on one fragment. Pieces of bark were found under the dagger and sheath. A sample of charcoal and cremated bones has been preserved. B5000/b.
Shard of an urn, hardened with ground quartz or coarse sand. The shards have a reddish surface inside and out. Some shards have been glued together. The shards are for a pot with a convex body and concave rim. There is no decoration. The surface is uneven. The original height was probably approx. 20-25 cm and the diameter approx. 15-20 cm. B5000/c.
Location:
Holen, Time, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a burial mound excavated by Gustafson. The mound was 16 m across and had a height of approx. 1.5 m. A stone coffin made of slabs, approx. 2.15 m long and 45-50 cm wide, 80 cm deep, was found southeast of the center. It was empty down to a depth of 30 cm; it was filled with earth, small stones and gravel. At a depth of 35 cm, the fibula and dagger as well as the outline of unburnt bones were found. The bronze was found in the northern part of the coffin. At the bottom of the coffin, fragments of an urn were found in one place. Pieces of cremated bones and charcoal were found in the fill in several places in the mound.
Date:
The fibula is dated to Early Bronze Age Early Period 2, the dagger is Period 2. It is difficult to give the urn an exact date, presumably Period 2, although it may be a later addition.
Small knife blade. Both ends are broken; one end could possibly be part of a haft plate. It has a slightly marked central rib on one side and is flat on the other. Probably a knife, or possibly a saw. Length: c.5.5 cm
Location:
Holen, Time, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a stone cist in a small mound. The coffin measured 1.10 x 0.55-0.75 m and was built of plates. It was filled with fine soil, about 0.3 m deep, and the soil contained some cremated bones, charcoal and B4998/a. Several bones were found on the bottom slabs. Another grave was found higher up in the mound, some iron fragments were found around.
Date:
The object is difficult to date, possibly a later Bronze Age or pre-Roman Iron Age.
Large socketed axe without a loop. It has parallel sides and a slightly curved edge, no internal shaft support. There is a transverse rib below the mouth of the socket. Part of the socket is missing and the edge is damaged as the finder filed saw teeth along the edge. Length: c. 10.5 cm. Width: 3.9 cm above the edge
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Grude, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
There is no information about when it was found or in what context.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Three fragments of a small, hilted knife or dagger. The fragments suggest an oval cut. The largest fragment is the part where the shaft meets the blade, indicating that the knife was cast in one piece, with a crescent-shaped transition to the blade. The shape of the blade suggests that this may have been a small dagger. The fragments are heavily corroded. The largest fragment measures 4.1 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Unknown farm, Jæren, Rogaland
Context:
There is no information on where or when the fragments were found.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Small flanged axe. It has high flanges and a curved edge. The butt is concave. The axe is golden brown and there is some corrosion. Oldendorf type. Length: 9.5 cm Width: 3.8 cm above the egg.
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Found location:
Line, Time, Rogaland
Context:
No information is available, although Johansen has classified it as a depository find.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 1
Blade of a dagger and fragments of a wooden shaft. The sides are chipped and damaged, the tip is broken. It is a flat tang with rivet holes and possibly flanges, so the dagger may have been flanged. The blade has a marked midrib. There are remnants of a green patina, the blade is corroded. According to the original catalogue, the wooden hilt was semicircular, probably similar to Montelius Minnen fig. 1006. Length: c.25 cm
Location:
Hodnes, Bore, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound at Hodnes, no information about the grave.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Fragment of double-edged blade, most likely a dagger. It has a marked midrib flanked by two line bundles consisting of three lines. The lines are not well made. The line bundles are concave at the widest end of the fragment, near the missing handle, indicating that this may have been a riveted blade. Length: c. 9.5 cm
Location:
Hogstad (unknown farm), Rogaland
Context:
No information is available. The name Hogstad is written on the blade, but as the object was acquired from an antiques dealer, there is no certain information about where, when or how it was found.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Two flat pieces of bronze, one is fish-shaped. Both are broken, and could possibly have been part of the same object. Both are corroded. The largest fragment measures 7.8 x 3.9-4.9 cm, thickness 0.6 cm; the smallest piece measures 2.4 x 3.7 cm, thickness 0.6 cm. Possibly casting debris.
Context:
Found in the ground, no other information.
Date:
A general date to the Bronze Age, possibly Iron Age.
One half of a small soapstone mold for a decorated ax without a handle. The shape is black and semi-circular. The core print consists of a conical depression in the middle, flanked by two round depressions and a notch on each side. The cavity is for a small waisted axe, with raised ribs on the side facets. There is a round indentation on the blade, which is an imperfection in the soapstone. Rygh 1999 [1885], fig. 97 is a parallel. Length: 5.9 cm Width: 3.8-4 cm
Location:
Stangeland, Sandnes, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground, no other information.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Arm ring, broken in two; one of the ends is missing. The ring has a triangular cross-section and straight ends. It is worn and some of the decoration is worn and faint. The decoration consists of a border of parallel oblique lines and two rows of triangles made up of short bundles of lines, then a border of parallel, slanting lines. The end has vertical parallel lines. There is some corrosion, otherwise the ring is golden. Width: 8.8 cm.
Location:
Bø, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a small stone cist in a partially destroyed mound around 1887, at Reheia on Karmøy. The mound was small and was located south of the easternmost mound. The cist measured approx. 0.5 cm and was rectangular; it was built from slabs and had a bottom slab and a covering slab. A clay urn with cremated bones was found in the eastern part of the cist. There is no information on the position of the arm ring. Two other small metal objects were found, but were never documented or submitted to the museum, so there is no information about which objects they were. The bracelet was broken into three pieces by the finder, only two parts have survived. There is no information about what happened to the urn and bones.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5.
A small tanged knife. The blade is curved along the back, while the edge is straight. The knife is heavily corroded. The blade was broken and has been glued together. Length: 7.4 cm
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Skadberg, Eigersund, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a stone cist in a mound. The knife was stuck between the stones in the coffin, and there were cremated bones on the bottom slab. A similar chamber had previously been found in the northern part of the mound. No other information.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Ribbed neck collar. It has nine ribs that are weak due to corrosion. The ends are straight but damaged. The collar was broken in two and has been repaired at the museum. Width: c. 9.5 cm, the band measures 4 cm. B4320/a.
Belt plate with central, conical boss. The plate is thin and damaged around the edges; some fragments have been broken off and glued together, while some parts are missing. There is a small loop at the back of the plate, which is slightly raised towards the middle. There are seven belts of decoration, starting with parallel lines alternating with vertical parallel lines, followed by a row of large running spirals, then parallel lines and vertical lines, a row of running spirals, vertical parallel lines and parallel lines, a row of running spirals, ending in parallel lines and vertical lines around the base of the pin, which has no decoration. Width: 18.8 cm. B4320/b.
Fibula, fragment. The bow of a fibula; the pin is kept at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo (C 123457). The bow consists of a flat and thin sheet of bronze, ending in a square section where a thin bronze rod is inserted into small holes coiles to each side, and the square section continues into an bow that secures the pin. The sheet is decorated with parallel lines and triangles. The other end of the fibula is missing. Golden in color, there are some notches along the edges of the bow. The fibula is known as a Terramara fibula and probably originated in Italy. B4320/c.
Location:
Vigrestad, Hå, Rogaland
Context:
There is very little information about the context. Several items were found at Vigrestad and sold; later the objects were sold to the museums in Bergen and Oslo. The pin belonging to the fibula is in the museum in Oslo (C 13457) as well two belt plate (C 12349) and two belt plates (C 12350). The pin is said to have come from a burial, while the belt plates were found in the ground. There is no other information about the buriall. Thus, it appears that B4320/a-c is a burial assemblage.
Date:
All three objects can be dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2.
Fragment of the upper part of a sword blade. It has a marked central rib and no decoration. The blade is broken where the blade expands and the shaft plate starts, so it is impossible to determine whether the blade was riveted or tanged. The sides are parallel. There is some corrosion. Length: c.12 cm.
Location:
Madla, Stavanger, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound in the 1830s at Madla farm. The chamber was about 2.5 m long and contained the sword and other unspecified bronze objects. The sword blade was complete when it was found, the other objects were not kept or handed in to the museum and are lost.
Date:
As the fragment was found in a large chamber, this suggests a dating to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
Small, funnel-shaped belt plate (tutulus), with a conical boss. There are parallel lines around the boss, and a loop on the back. The tutulus is green and corroded. Width: 1.8 cm Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Vashus, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a small mound. There is no information about the cist or whether bones were found.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Fragmented, funnel-shaped belt plate (tutulus) with a conical, central boss. The fragments are glued together. There is a loop on the underside. The plate is flat and decorated with parallel lines alternating with rows of vertical parallel lines and triangles, while the boss is undecorated. The decoration is difficult to discern due to corrosion. The tutulus is green and heavily corroded. Width: 6.1 cm.
Found together with:
/b: Small, flat perforated disk or bead of gray slate. It is polished and the holes are conical. Width: 1.5 cm, and
/c: Retouched point in gray flint. The base is concave; one of the sides is convex. The versal and dorsal sides have not been worked, while the sides are finely retouched. Length: 6.3 cm
Photo: Svein Skare
Location:
Nese, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in an unburnt burial in a mound, in the same chamber as belt plate B3578, while the chamber was being demolished. The tutulus was found together with a flint point at the bottom of the western side of the cist, while a small perforated slate disc, or bead, was found at the widest end of the cist.
Date:
The tutulus is dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
Small, raised belt plate with central, conical boss. There is a loop below and faint traces of parallel horizontal lines. Tutulus is heavily corroded and cracked. Width: 2.7 cm in diameter. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Nese, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in an inhumation burial in a mound around 1880. The stone cist was 2.2 m and drywalled, the sides were flat stones while the ends consisted of slabs. The bottom was covered with sand. The remains of a skeleton were found; the bones were almost dissolved but the teeth were well preserved. The tutulus was found near the northern end of the chamber. Pieces of bone and charcoal were found around stones in the mound. Later, when the chamber was demolished, B03874/a-c: tutulus, slate disc and flint point, were found.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2-3
Large socketed axe without a handle. The blade is slightly curved and has a curved edge. There are three transverse ribs below the mouth. Hexagonal cross-section, there is no internal shaft support. There is some damage to the mouth, blade and edge. Green patina, the ax is corroded. Length: c. 10.8 cm Width: 4.3 cm above the edge.
Location:
Sømme, Sola, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground near a spring, not far from Hafrsfjorden.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Small razor with S-shaped handle. Part of the handle is missing, and the end is partially missing. Green and corroded. Baudous type XXV B 1. Length: 6.4 cm. B3333/a.
Fragment of a small tanged blade, arrowhead. The tip is missing. Baudous type V A. Length: c. 4 cm. B3333/b.
Fragments of a disc-headed pin. There are horizontal parallel lines below the head. The needle and needle head are corroded. Baudou’s type XI B 2a. Length: 5.8 cm (needle) and 2 cm (head). B3333/c.
Location:
Sola, Sola, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound, Store Melhaug, excavated by Anders Lorange in 1879. The mound had a diameter of about 27-28 m and was built of sand. There was a large stone wall 4 m from the edge, it was 3 m wide and 1 m high, and it contained a small secondary grave containing B03333/a-c. The cist was made of slabs and measured 0.5 m. Eight m further east another drywalled cist was found, measuring 2 m and filled with soil. A similar cist was found in the wall on the northern side of the mound; there were no finds but the remains of an inhumation could be seen on the bottom slabs. There was a small cairn in the centre, covering a drywalled cist measuring 1.5 m and made from small flat stones and a large slab. The bottom consisted of small flat stones on a layer of pebbles, and the remains of an inhumation were found. Around the skeleton there were the remains of a coarse textile, and a wooden container with grains behind the head. None of the organic material has been preserved.
Date:
The collection is dated to the Early Bronze Age period 4-5.
Large socketed axe without a handle. The blade is slightly curved in and the edge is slightly curved. It has a hexagonal cross-section and has no internal shaft support. There is a transverse rib below the mouth. There is some damage around the mouth; there is a crack on one side and a hole on the other side. The axe is green and corroded. Length: 10.3 cm Width: 3.8 cm above the edge.
Location:
Revheim, Stavanger, Rogaland
Context:
Found in the ground near a spring and near a rock art field Fluberget. Other discoveries in the area are a couple of surprises.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Foto: Svein Skare © Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Decorated belt plate with central, conical boss. The edge is damaged, and the loop on the back is broken. The boss is decorated with horizontal parallel ribs, while the plate has parallel lines around the edge, a belt of large running spirals, a belt of parallel lines followed by a belt of smaller running spirals, and parallel lines. There are vertical parallel lines and zigzags around the base of the boss. The decoration is weak due to corrosion. Width: 14.2 cm. B3322/a.
Two ribbed bracelets, with nine ribs and straight ends. Every second rib has small parallel lines that slope either to the left or to the right. One of the bracelets is broken in several places; the fragments are glued together. Golden-red with some corrosion, otherwise the bracelets are well preserved. Width: 7 cm across, the bands measure 3.8 cm. B3322/b.
Fibula with cross-headed pin head and a bow with spiral ends. It is heavily corroded. Length: 9.4 cm. B3322/c.
Location:
Særheim, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a burial in a mound, with a diameter of c. 26 m. The mound was excavated by Bendixen in 1879, and the excavation revealed a complex arrangement. The inner mound was surrounded by a narrow ditch and what appears to have been a kerb or terrace, about 2.5 m wide. There was a central cairn, 14 m across and covered by a thin layer of soil, with a layer of stone on top and finally a layer of turf. The stone layer was up to 3.5 m thick. The inner cairn covered two smaller cairns that each contained a stone cist. The smallest cist measured 1 m and was built from slabs. It contained charcoal and cremated bones. The second cist was found in the centre of the mound; it measured 2 m, the sides were built of small flat slabs while the ends were two large stones with flat sides. The bottom was covered by small round pebbles. The belt plate was found in the centre, with a bracelet on both sides, while the fibula was found in one corner of the cist, to the right of where the head would have been. Thus the artefacts were placed in an anatomically correct position .
Date:
The collection is dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2.
Palstave with decoration. Long, slender blade that widens at the edge, and high ridges. The blade has Y-shaped plastic decoration, with two deep grooves on each side. The edge has been resharpened in modern times, there are signs of polishing on the blade as well. There are some remains of brown patina; the axe is green and corroded. Length: 14.8 cm. Width: 4 cm above the edge.
Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Unknown farm at Jæren, Rogaland
Context:
No information is available, it was found sometime before 1873 on Jæren, a large agricultural area.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Belt plate (tutulus) with central, funnel-shaped boss and decoration. The edge is damaged. The decoration consists of alternating parallel lines and rows of triangles. The boss is also decorated: a row of vertical parallel lines alternates with parallel horizontal lines in relief. There is a loop on the back, which is green and corroded, while the front of the tutulus is golden red. The boss measures c. 5 cm. Width: 8.4 cm
Location:
Unknown farm at «Jæren», Rogaland
Context:
There is no information about where and when it was found, except that it comes from Jæren, which is a large area that is today dominated by agriculture. It is likely that it was found in a mound, as the area has many mounds and tutuli are usually found in graves.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
Twisted bronze rod, possibly a fragment of a neck ring. The fragment measured 7 inches and was curved when found.
Location:
Unknown farm, Sandnes, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a bog sometime before 1875.
Date:
General Bronze Age dating, most likely a ring from the Late Bronze Age.
Fragment of fibula. The pin head and bow ends are missing, so there are no diagnostic features. Green patina, both fragments are corroded. The pin measures 8.2 cm, the fragment of the bow 3.7 cm.
Location:
Kleppe, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in 1872 in a large mound at Høybakken. The mound had a central cairn, where a 5-foot chamber was found, built of small flat stones and covered with slabs. The grave contained cremated bones and a belt plate (B2844 and B2845). The bones were in the southern corner, the belt plate in the eastern corner, while the fibula was in the center of the grave.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2-3, as found in the same burial as B2844.
Decorated belt plate with central, conical boss. There is a small hem on the back. The edge is damaged all around the plate, and the boss is broken and glued. The decoration consists of seven rings with various geometric patterns, including knobs made in a repoussé technique. Around the edge there is a row of buds surrounded by a ring, then parallel vertical and horizontal lines, followed by two rows of buds with rings, then a belt of partly crossing stripes; this is followed by a row of ringed studs, a belt of small indentations, a row of tiny studs punched into the metal, and finally a band of vertical lines. The boss is also decorated: stripes and horizontal lines at the bottom, possibly horizontal lines on the lower half. The plate is green and corroded. Width: c. 14 cm
Location:
Kleppe, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in 1872 in a large mound at Høybakken. The mound had a central cairn, where a 5-foot chamber was found, built of small flat stones and covered with slabs. The grave contained cremated bones, the belt plate and fragments of a fibula (B2845). The bones were in the southern corner, the belt plate in the eastern corner, while the fibula was in the center of the grave.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2-3
Complete decorated tweezers, waisted and ending in a wide mouth. It was broken at the bow; the fracture has been repaired at the museum. The decoration consists of a ribbon of transverse parallel lines running along the sides and curving around three knobs, one above the other two, forming a triangle. Golden, some corrosion, otherwise well preserved. The decoration is similar to Baudou’s type VII D, while the shape is similar to XII E 1. Length: c. 6.5 cm Width: 2.5 cm above the mouth.
Photo: Svein Skare.
Location:
Storasund, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a grave on Karmøy.
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 4-5
Small palstave with waisted blade and wide edge. The neck has high flanges. The blade has a small indentation under the shaft. There is some modern resharpening on the blade. Golden brown, some corrosion. Length: c. 11.1 cm. Width: 3.5 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Randaberg, Stavanger, Rogaland
Context:
Found in 1871 at Randaberg, no other information is available.
Date:
Early Bronze Age Period 2
Complete palstave with a long and slender blade and simple decoration, a so-called weapon palstave. The neck has high flanges, and the transition to the blade is marked by two horizontal ribs, one wider than the other. The edge is wide and curves outwards. There is some damage to the edge and along the blade. The palstave is corroded, but the remains of a green patina can be seen. Length: 16.3 cm. Width: 3.6 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Hauge, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found between two stones in a bog, «Djupemyra».
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Blade of a riveted dagger, with two rivet holes and one rivet preserved. The blade has a rounded midrib, and is broken near the tip; the fragments are glued together. The tip is missing. There is some damage to the sides and shaft plate. The dagger is green and heavily corroded. Length: 22.5 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Lura, Sandnes, Rogaland
Context:
No information available.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Gold spiral rings, both made of a double gold thread. According to Marstrander (1977), the gold is from Schleswig-Holstein and the northern part of Lower Saxony.
Location:
Sele, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a grave, underneath a stone slab together with pottery shards and cremated bones.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Decorated tweezers, narrow at the top and ending in a wide mouth. Part of the lower part is missing on one side. There are three parallel lines along the sides and up towards the top, which end about halfway down the sides. There is a border of semicircles with dots in the center on the inside of the line bundles. The lower part has three round elevations in relief, facing two holes on the other side of the tweezers. Golden color, there is some corrosion. Similar to Baudou’s type VII D. Length: 6.6 cm. Width: 2.5 cm above the mouth. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a mound, the «Tangerhaugen» which contained two small cists built of slabs. One was empty; the other contained B02597 cremated bones.
Date:
The shape and decoration indicate a date to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Hilt and pommel of a sword, or possibly the haft of a composite axe. The pommel is round and flat, with a cross in relief in the centre. The hilt has a pattern of triangles and zigzags in relief, and ends in a flat, square tang with three small rivet holes. Length: 8.1 cm
Location:
Tu, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a small mound in 1870. No other information is available.
Date:
The decoration indicates an early Bronze Age dating period 3.
Twisted gold ring, with smooth ends. A similar bracelet was found at Hodne in Klepp municipality (S4091). The gold is from Schleswig-Holstein and the northern part of Lower Saxony. Width: 6.5 cm
Location:
Utvik, Karmøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound at Reheia on Karmøy in 1823. The mound was the largest of the mounds on the site, on the west side of a standing rock. The chamber was 1.98 x 0.83 m and built of stone and sand. The bracelet was found with gold leaf (B01616), at the northern end of the chamber. A broken bronze sword was found but was not submitted to the museum and is now lost. Some of the stones on the left side of the chamber protruded like shelves, filled with sand, and the sword was found on one of these.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Fragments of thin gold leaf.
Found in a mound at Reheia on Karmøy in 1823. The mound was the largest of the mounds on the site, on the west side of a standing rock. The chamber was 1.98 x 0.83 m and built of stone and sand. Gold leaf was found along with a gold bracelet (B01893), at the northern end of the chamber. A broken bronze sword was found but was not submitted to the museum and is now lost.
Location:
Utvik, Karmøy, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
One half of a necklace, with possible spiral end. It is round and thin, and is decorated with lines.
Location:
Sørbø, Rennesøy, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a cairn in 1847, no other information.
Dating:
Bronze Age
Five fragments of a tanged sword. Most of the tang and tip are missing. A semi-circular curve on the blade indicates the shape of the shaft. The blade appears to have been wider in the middle; there is a rounded central rib flanked by a line on either side. The midrib ends near the point and the lines converge and continue to the point. The sword is severely damaged: it has been burned and is corroded. The sides of the blade are broken and chipped. Length: 58.8 cm
Location:
Sola, Sola, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a grave at Sola in 1834, together with a button and other bronzes, which were not submitted to the museum.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Tanged sword with two rivet holes. The blade widens and tapers towards the point, and has a marked midrib. There are some notches along the blade. The sword is heavily corroded. Length: 54 cm
Location:
Friestad, Klepp, Rogaland
Context:
Found in a mound. No other information available.
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Complete riveted sword with pommel. The hilt is missing. The haft plate is triangular. A semi-circular curve on the blade indicates the shape of the hilt. There are three rivet holes; there is still a rivet in the top, central hole, while there are broken rivets in the remaining holes. The blade widens and tapers towards the point, the tip of which is missing. There is a rounded midrib flanked by two parallel lines on both sides; the lines start at the side of the haft plate and are concave before running down the blade. Some notches along the blade, otherwise it is well preserved. The sword is green and corroded; part of the midrib has been polished in modern times. The pommel is small and oval, 2.4 x 3 cm. It has a small boss in the centre, surrounded by eight small rings in relief (which might have been inlaid with organic material) and four short lines along the edge. The socket is damaged and has a triangular border. There is some corrosion. Length: 59.7 cm
Context:
Found in a grave. The chamber was rectangular and was dry-walled, with slabs at both ends. NB: There is some confusion in the catalogue as it would seem that B01009 and B01011 may have been mixed up. Accordingly, this sword (B01009) is supposed to have come from a burial at Sola, while B01011 is from Skeie. The information about the find from Skeie is that it was found in a dry-walled rectangular chamber, while the find from Sola was found in a grave with a button and other bronzes in 1834.
Location:
Skeie, Vindafjord, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Sword. Complete octagon-hilted sword. The hilt is attached to the blade with two rivets. The pommel and hilt are cast in one piece. The blade has an oval cross-section and tapers towards the point, which curls up on one side. The pommel is oval and has an oval boss in the centre. There are faint traces of decoration, probably lines and rings. There are three horizontal, parallel lines at the transition between the pommel and hilt, and the hilt also has faint traces of S-shaped decoration. Golden-brown, corroded in places. Length: c. 62 cm.
Context:
No information available
Location:
Madla, Stavanger, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Small palstave, without decoration. The casting seams are still present. The blade has parallel sides. Flat butt, the flanges are high and pronounced, especially at the transition to the blade. The edge is convex and the corners curved. There is some corrosion. The golden, most of the dark brown patina is gone. Length: 12.7 cm. Width: 3.8 cm above the edge, 2.1 cm at the transition to the blade
Context:
Found around 1.75 m deep in a peat bog near Tuholm; no other information.
Location:
Tu, Klepp, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Long, slender spearhead. The leaves are convex and start 2.4 cm from the socket of the base, just above the two rivet holes. Part of the socket is missing on one side. It has a round cross-section. Three parallel lines run along the edge of the leaves. The socket is decorated: above the rivet holes there are triangles, parallel horizontal lines and a bead border; below are horizontal parallel lines, beads, followed by horizontal lines, triangles, horizontal lines and beads. Dark green patina, there are golden patches where the patina has been removed in modern times. Ullerslev type. Length: 24.5 cm
Context:
Apparently found in a mound at Blodheien, that is Reheia on Karmøy. No other information about the grave.
Location:
Utvik, Karmøy, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2
Decorated pommel, probably belonging to B906. The pommel is rhombic, with a round socket. The socket is damaged and there is some damage underneath the top. The remains of a rivet are found inside the socket. There is an oval boss at the top, decorated with striated triangles and surrounded by eight concentric rings. There are dots, a line, and more dots between the edge and the rings. The socket is also decorated: eight horizontal parallel lines, followed by a border of vertical parallel lines, three horizontal lines, criss-crossing lines, and finally horizontal lines, with a possible border of vertical lines. Golden, red, and brown; there is some corrosion. Width: 4.5 x 4 cm
Context:
Found in a mound at Sola in 1834, together with a razor, two daggers and a fibula (B00449, B00906, B00907, and B00908). No other information. This cannot be confirmed, as the original catalogue mentions that the finds may have come from several mounds.
Location:
Sola, Sola komm., Rogaland
Date:
Older Bronze Age periode 3
Razor with horse head and decoration. The handle ends in a horse’s head, complete with two small ears. The end of the razor is missing. Slightly curved, and the blade is narrow. The top and sides have geometric ornamentation: the top has alternating sets of vertical lines and chevrons. The sides have two parallel lines, then three parallel sets of triangles, two parallel lines and triangles. Golden, there is some corrosion. Length: c. 7.5 cm. Width: 1.2 cm across the blade.
Context:
Found in a mound at Sola in 1834, together with B449, B906, B907 and B909. No other information. This cannot be confirmed, as the original catalog mentions that the finds may have come from several mounds.
Location:
Sola, Sola comm., Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Blade of a riveted dagger, with three rivet holes. There is still a rivet in the central top hole. The blade has a rounded central rib flanked by two parallel lines on either side. There is some damage to the sides and shaft plate. The blade is broken in two places; the pieces have been glued together. Heavily corroded, but some of the patina remains. Length: c.17.5 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a mound at Sola in 1834, together with B449, B906, B908 and B909. No other information. This cannot be confirmed, as the original catalog mentions that the finds may have come from several mounds.
Location:
Sola, Sola comm., Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Blade of a riveted dagger, with four rivet holes and central rib. The handle plate is damaged and the rivet holes are partial. The tip is missing. On each side of the central rib run four lines, starting at the two outer rivet holes. The lines taper towards the tip. The blade narrows towards the tip, there are some notches and scratches. There is some corrosion. According to the original catalog, the pommel B909 belongs to this knife blade. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a mound at Sola in 1834, reportedly together with B449, B907-B909 (fibula, razor, pommel and riveted blade). No other information. This cannot be confirmed, as the original catalog mentions that the finds may have come from several mounds.
Location:
Sola, Sola comm., Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3.
Fragments of thin gold foil.
Context:
Found in a pile at Reheia in 1844; we do not know which mound and there is no information about the burial. It was found together with a bronze double button (B546) and cremated bones (B547).
Location:
Utvik, Karmøy, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Small double button with central boss. The top plate is raised and decorated with ribs. The boss is long and has a round plate at the end. This description is based on a drawing in Rygh 1999 [1885], as the double button has not been placed in the museum magazines. Length: 2.5 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a mound at Reheia on Karmøy in 1844; we do not know which mound and there is no information about the burial. It was found together with gold leaf (B548) and cremated bones (B547).
Location:
Utvik, Karmøy, Rogaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Fibula with hourglass-shaped flat pin head and decorated bow. The ends of the bow are broken; it may have had spiral ends. The bow has striped decoration, while the hourglass has horizontal lines. Golden color, there is some corrosion. The needle: 12.7 cm. Bow: 11.5 cm
Context:
Found in a burial mound at Sola in 1834, no other information. It was allegedly found along with B906-909: two daggers, a sword button and a razor blade. This cannot be confirmed, as the original catalog mentions that the finds may have come from several piles.
Location:
Sola, Sola comm., Rogaland
Date:
Fibulae with hourglass pin heads date to Period 2, although they continue into Period 3.
Small flanged axe with curved, semicircular blade and flat nbutt. There are low ribs from the blade to the neck. Some dark brown patina remains and there is some corrosion. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: 12 cm. Width: c. 5.2 cm across the blade. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in 1982, under excavation of foundations for a wall. The axe was found approximately 20-30 cm deep underground. A subsequent excavation indicated that the axe must have been laid down near bedrock. A sword (B11599) and a flanged ax (B12125) have been found on the farm, but not in the same area.
Location:
Blindheim (no. 17/371), Ålesund, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1b.
Socketed axe without loop. The axe has straight, parallel sides and a convex edge. The socket is damaged. There are two transverse ribs below the mouth of the socket. No internal haft support; hexagonal cross-section. The blade is decorated with a plastic, negative facet and deep ribs that curve out towards the corners of the blade. Dark green patina, most of which is severely corroded. Similar to Rygh fig. 99. Length: c. 9.6 cm. Width: 4.3 cm across blade
Context:
Found when ploughing in the 1950s, about 10-15 cm deep, on a terrace in an otherwise flat field.
Location:
Øvrebust (gnr. 133/6), Stordal, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Shape, decoration and lack of internal shaft support indicate an early date for the axe, Early Bronze Age period 2.
Small flanged axe with curved, semicircular blade and flat neck. There are low moldings from the blade to the neck; there is some damage to the lists. The metal is corroded, with the remains of a dark green patina. Langquaid type (Vandkilde’s type B4). Length: c.9.9 cm. Width: c. 4.9 cm across the blade.
Context:
Found in the same area as B11599, sword of the Hadjusamson type, in the 1930s or 40s. The area was originally rocky, and the ax was possibly laid down on or by an outcrop. It is possible that B12125 and B11599 were deposited together, but this cannot be determined, as there was some distance between the two objects. In 1982, another edged ax was found on the farm, but not in the same area (B13373).
Location:
Blindheim (gnr. 17/1), Ålesund, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1b.
Socketed axe with extended neck and loop. It has no internal haft support, and it has a hexagonal cross-section. Axes of this type are decorated with a characteristic set of horizontal and vertical ribs: three transverse ribs next to the loop, crossed by three vertical ribs. The decoration is rather faint. The loop is only partially cast, and there is a small hole in the metal below the loop, where the metal is thin. There are also bubbles in the metal on one side. The socket is partially damaged. The axe is green and corroded. Baudou’s type B1b, the Norwegian variant. Length: c. 8.5 cm. Width: c. 4.7 cm across edge
Context:
Found about 20 cm deep at the edge of a bog, on gravel covered with soil. It was found in the 1950s on an old path that went around the marsh, approx. 15 m.a.s.l. The place is known as «Nordavindsholo».
Location:
Øvre Berge (gnr. 30/2), Herøy, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Small socketed axe without a loop. The axe is waisted and has a slightly curved edge. It has internal haft support. The socket is partial and it looks like there was not enough metal when the axe was cast. There are three transverse ribs, one marking the mouth of the socket and two below. Four vertical ribs run in pairs from the lowest transverse rib, and diverge towards the corners of the edge; the two inner ribs are shorter than the outer ones and come to an end c. 1.5 cm above the edge. Golden-brown patina. Parallels: Montelius Minnen fig. 1180 has similar ribs in pairs. Length: c. 5.6 cm. Width: c.3.7 cm across edge
Context:
Found in 1964 in a bog, about 1.5 m deep, and 50 m from land. According to one report, there was charcoal and burnt stone, and a layer of black soil containing charcoal in the area. There used to be a river and mill nearby.
Location:
Noggva (no. 6/11), Haram, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The axe is dated to period 5-6
Incomplete sword with socketed hilt,. The lower part of the blade is missing; the remaining blade was broken in two and is glued together. There is a small fragment of the lower part of the blade, near the point. There is some damage to the edges of the blade, and the hilt is severely corroded. The blade is ogival with midrib; the shoulders are convex and semi-circular. The hilt consists of an oval hollow-cast tube and narrow plate attached to the blade with two rivets. Between the rivets there are four fake rivets. There is a rivet inside the socket. The socket and blade are decorated: the socket has three sets of horizontal lines and a faint outline of triangles below the mouth of the socket and between the line bundles. The blade has three striated triangles below the two central fake rivets, and four line bundles run from the shoulders and down the blade. The outer line bundles consist of six lines and flank first the inner line bundles and then the midrib, finally converging at the section where the blade is broken. The inner line bundles consist of four lines and flank the midrib and converge about 13 cm down the blade. Hadju-sámson type. Parallels: a sword from Roum, Jutland and the sword from Nebra (Engedal 2010). Length: 36.9 cm. Width: 8.9 cm across shoulders.
Context:
Found during road construction. The finder had dug a ditch and noticed a branch-like object jutting out from the side of the ditch. It broke when he hit it with the spade, and he noticed that the fracture was golden. He subsequently pulled out the object and realised that it was a sword. The spot was covered up, including fragments of the sword. Later, the area was further disturbed by road building. The exact position is not known, but according to reports at the time it might have been next to a rock, or on a ledge in the rock, on a steep rocky slope. The area was excavated in 1969, without any finds. The missing fragments of the sword were not found. Two flanged axes have been found on the farm, B12125 and B13373.
Location:
Blindheim (gnr. 17/1), Ålesund, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Swords of this type are rare, only four parallels are known, and they are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1. The sword can thus be dated to period 1.
Tanged sword with rounded midrib, broken in two below the shoulders; the fragments are glued together. The tang is relatively short, the shoulders are sharp, and the blade is straight, but tapers slightly towards the tip, which is missing. This is a recent injury as the fracture is not patinated. There is some damage to the blade: the blade is bent and uneven around the break, which may be post-closure, although there is a large notch on the edge near the break, which was deposited before closure. There are also marks further down the blade, and a corresponding notch on the edge. The patina is mainly a reddish brown and green; there is some corrosion. Length: 66.6 cm. Width: 4 cm at the shoulders, 2 cm near the tip. Photo: Svein Skare
Context:
Found under a large rock on a rocky, gravelly slope or escarpment on Ulsteinhetta, near the southern edge of a ridge known as Ormehalsen. The location is approximately 50 m above a flat area. It was discovered when a smaller stone was removed.
Location:
Stadsnes (gnr. 5/14), Ulstein, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The outline and the short tang indicate dating to a Younger Bronze Age period 5 (Baudou 1960).
One half of a soapstone mold. The hollow is for a small axe without a loop, with waist sides and a slightly curved edge. There are two transverse ribs; the upper ends at the sides and curls towards the center of the blade. Note: as the mold is kept at Sunnmøre Museum, this description is based on photographs. Length: 7.2 cm
Context:
Found near the road during excavation. No other information.
Location:
Lillebø (gnr. 73/1), Vanylven, Møre and Romsdal
Date:
Younger Bronze Age period 5-6
Socketed axe without handle, incomplete. The base is missing due to a casting error: there was not enough metal. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section and no internal shaft support. The axe is curved in and the edge is convex. The surface is rough and does not appear to have been polished; it is green with some darker areas, and there are signs that the edge has become sharper in modern times. The blade is decorated: three vertical ribs run down the blade; the left and right ribs go down to the edge while the middle rib stops about halfway down the blade. This suggests that the axe is either of the Mälar type or the Norwegian variety, probably the latter. Length: 7.5 cm. Width: 5 cm above the edge.
Context:
Found at the bottom of a bog at Seljehaugen, approx. 85 cm deep and approx. 100 m from shore.
Location:
Sylte (gnr. 25/2), Vanylven, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of the Mälar type and the Norwegian variant are dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4-5.
Socketed axe. Most of the socket and the loop are missing, broken off by the finder. The edge was resharpened and the axe hafted and used as a scraper. The axe has parallel sides, slightly waisted, and convex edge. The blade has a hexagonal cross-section. The corners of the edge may have curved up or outwards, as it looks like they have been filed off. The facet is trapezoid and looks like it started at the rib at or beneath the mouth of the socket. Part of a transverse rib can be discerned. The axe has no internal haft support. The surface is rough, mostly golden with some darker brown areas. The shape is similar to Baudou’s type VII C 1 a and Montelius Minnen fig. 1175. Length: c. 7 cm. Width: c. 4.1 cm across edge.
Context:
Found in a bog, no other information.
Location:
Strand, Fiskå (gnr. 8), Vanylven, County: Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The size should indicate a date to the Late Bronze Age, while the outline with parallel sides is reminiscent of Period 3 axes. A date to the Younger Bronze Age period 4 is probable.
A small riveted dagger, with two rivet holes, and the remains of an organic hilt. The blade is uneven and has been resharpened considerably in prehistory. There is no midrib or decoration. There are some notches along the blade and the point is slightly bent. Part of the hilt is preserved: a small horn shaped into a handle. According to the original catalogue, it is a goat’s horn. It is black and fragmented, partly damaged by the spade when it was found. A small cylindrical piece of what looks like bone or horn was also handed in by the finder, who seemed to think that it could have been a rivet. It measures 0.4 cm and is certainly small enough that it could have been used as a rivet. Brown patina with some golden patches. Length: 8.5 cm, the remains of the hilt c. 6.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm (widest section of the blade)
Context:
Found in a bog while digging a ditch, about 1.2 m deep, close to the doctor’s house. The bog was surrounded by rock outcrops.
Location:
Eggesbøen (gnr, 38/1), Herøy, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Older bronce Age Periode 2-3.
Complete spearhead. It is broken in two and the break is glued. The leaves are broad; the base is wider at the mouth than where it meets the blade. There are two small rivet holes on either side of the plinth; there is a ring around each hole, which is no more than a vague outline due to corrosion. The base has a round cross-section. The surface is uneven; the patina is golden brown. The spearhead has been reground by the finder on the tip, the top of the base on both sides and on the edges of the blades. Length: 17.2 cm Width: approx. 3.3 cm across the widest section. Photo: Svein Skare
Context:
No information.
Location:
Giskeødegård (gnr. 129), Giske, Møre and Romsdal
Date:
Spearheads of this type are generally late, and the point is dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Small socketed axe without loop. The socket is incomplete due to a casting flaw; there was not enough metal. Two marked ribs can be discerned. The socket has an oval cross-section. The facet starts at the ribs and is triangular. The sides are parallel and are slightly wider near the edge, which is convex and curves up on either side. There is no internal haft support. The axe has a brown patina which has been more or less completely removed in modern times. Similar to Baudou’s type VII C 2 b, although the sides are straighter.. Length: 7.1 cm. Width: 3.9 cm across edge.
Context:
Found in a bog, no other information.
Location:
Kvamsøy, farm unknown (Simones according to Johansen 1993), Sande, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The size of the axe suggests a date from the Late Bronze Age, but the shape points to the Early Bronze Age. The similarity to Baudou’s type VII C 2b suggests a period 5 date, although the lack of internal shaft support dates the ax to Younger Bronze Age period 4.
Complete awl. The tang is flat and square; the other end is round and sharp. Dark green patina, mostly intact, although there are golden areas on one side. It is depicted in Rygh (1999) as R119. Length: 13.6 cm Width: 0.2-0.8 cm. Photo: Svein Skare
Context:
Found in 1832, under a large flat stone in a field.
Location:
Døvingen (gnr. 26), Norddal, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Awls are found throughout the Bronze Age; the awl is dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
Palstave with high ribs. The blade has a Y-shaped decoration consisting of long and deep grooves on each side. The edge looks like it has been hammered or bent during use; the patina is gone here and looks like it has been removed in modern times. The neck is somewhat irregular and wide. Dark green patina, most of which has dissolved. There are some golden spots. Length: 14.2 cm Width: 3.4 cm above the edge.
Context:
The axe was found on the farm a number of years before it was acquired by the museum, no other information.
Location:
Otterøy, Aukra, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Palestaves are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2.
Small fragment of socketed axe with loop; the fragment consists of a loop and the surrounding area. There are indications of ribs starting at both ends of the loop. The fractures are old and worn. Length: 2.5 cm Width: 1.4 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Stend (no. 97/54), Bergen, Hordaland
Date:
General date to the Bronze Age.
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.
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.
Fragment of one half of a soapstone mould for a double-edged blade, the size indicating that it is for a sword. Only the middle part is preserved. There is a marked V-shaped central rib surrounded by a line on each side. The blade narrows slightly forward. Length: c. 19.3 cm. Width: 5.4-7 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
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.
Location:
Sørheim (36/3), Etne, Hordaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 2-3
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.
Fragment of a soapstone mould for a blade, possibly a sword or dagger. Only the tip of the blade is preserved. The ends converge into a point, and there is a marked central rib. There is some damage around the tip. Length: 9 cm. Width: 2.4 – 3.7 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
No information on when or where it was found.
Location:
Prestegarden, Ullensvang (gnr. 76), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
As this is a fragment without an indication of the type of blade, a more precise dating cannot be given. The form is dated to the Bronze Age.
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.
Socketed axe with loop and extended neck of the Norwegian variety, it has facets on the broad side. The sides are almost straight. Green/grey patina, which has peeled off in spots. The ax is decorated with the characteristic pattern of crossing ribs: three transverse ribs parallel to the hem, crossed by three vertical ribs. Two of the vertical ribs follow the sides of the axe. There is no internal shaft support. The hole is incomplete; this happened during casting when there was not enough metal in the mold. The cross-section around the base is hexagonal, while the blade is more or less rectangular. Length: 10.6 cm. Width: 5 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Socketed axe with loop. It has a slightly flared neck and internal shaft support, there is no decoration. There is some damage to the hole and the hemp is worn. The edge is somewhat crooked, as it curves more markedly on the same side as the hem. Green patina, which is partially dissolved; the ax is partially corroded. Baudou’s type VII C3. Length: 5.6 cm. Width: 3.8 cm Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
The axe was found on the farm, but there is no further information on when or where.
Location:
Kvamsøy (gnr. 55/4,5), Kvam, Hordaland
Date:
Small axes of this type are generally dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
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.
Large, fully twisted neck ring. The ring has two oval plates at the front, each ending in a spiral. The ring was originally cast in one piece. The right spiral is attached to the plate with two rivets. This is a repair, as the spiral was broken at the transition from the plate and was reattached with the rivets. Similar rings have decorated plates, but this ring has no ornamentation. The ring is twisted in one direction. As the patina dissolved in the bog and the finder washed it, the ring is now golden. Baudou’s type XVI C3. Diameter: 22.4 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Opedal (number 74/11), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
Since there are no datable details, the shape cannot be given a more specific dating than the Younger Bronze Age period 4-6.
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.
Blade of a riveted dagger with marked central rib, originally with two rivet holes. There is some damage to the chin plate, and only one rivet hole can be seen. Heavily corroded, otherwise the dagger is well preserved. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Utne (gnr. 108/19, 64), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Date:
Daggers of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 2-3.
Small broad-bladed razor (razor) (B7656/b). The handle ends in a spiral, which has broken off and is now lost. The patina has been removed; the blade is golden with some darker spots. The edge of the blade has suffered some damage, compared to a photo taken shortly after it was found. Baudous type XI B 1 c. Length: 5.8 cm. Width: 1.4 cm Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Spearhead, B5425. Complete spearhead. It was broken in two and the break is glued. The blades are wide; the socket is wider at the mouth than where it meets the blades. There are two small rivet holes on either side of the socket; there is a ring around each hole, a ring is no more than a vague outline due to corrosion. The socket has a round cross-section. The surface is rough; the patina is golden brown. The spearhead has been resharpened by the finder: the point, the top of the socket on both sides, the edges of the blades. Length: 17.2 cm. Width: approx. 3.3 cm across widest section. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
No information.
Location:
Giskeødegård (gnr. 129), Giske, Møre and Romsdal
Date:
Spearheads of this type are generally late, and B05425 is dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 5-6.
Shaft hole axe of the Fårdrup type, B5921. Massive four-sided shaft hole axe. The edge of the blade is convex and blunt, but it is said that it was sharp when it was found but that the edge was dulled after the children on the farm had played with the axe. The neck is convex. One short side is uneven and there are bubbles in the metal on all sides. The shaft hole is large, approx. 3.1 cm in diameter. The metal around the shaft hole is very thin, and the top of the shaft hole is incomplete. This is due to a casting failure; there was not enough metal to fill the mould. There was a fine layer of sand in the holes in the metal when the axe was found, possibly from the mold. The axe had never been used before it was deposited. It has a dark green patina, with some corrosion. Fårdrup type. Length: 16.4 cm. Width: c. 3.8 cm. Weight: 963.4 g.
Context:
The axe was found while digging the foundations of a barn, approx. 1900. The farmer had removed the topsoil and reached the underground, and the hole was left uncovered for a while, so that rain filled the hole. The farmer’s children played and dug in the hole and found the axe. As there was water in the hole, the exact depth could not be determined, although the farmer thought the axe must have been about 1 m deep.
Location:
Kvanngardsnes (gnr. 151/2), Volda, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Axes of the Fårdrup type are dated to the Older Bronze Age period 1b.
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
Date:
Late Neolithic or Bronze Age
Casting debris, copper alloy, possibly from the Bronze Age. The bronze is corroded. Length: 6.8 cm. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Vik (gnr. 59/3), Fitjar, Hordaland
Date:
Possibly from the Bronze Age
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.
Spiral finger ring. Coiled spiral ring, made from a rounded bronze band. The ring is flat inside. There is some corrosion. Width: 2.4 cm Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
No information is available.
Location:
Unknown, found in Hålandsdalen, Fusa, Hordaland
Date:
General Bronze Age dating, possibly Early Bronze Age Period 3 based on a comparison with similar spiral finger rings.
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.
Location:
Vestbøstad (no. 61/14), Fitjar, Hordaland
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.
Photo: Svein Skare © Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Socketed axe B4587, with extended neck and hem, undecorated. A corner of the rim was broken by the finder. There is a horizontal raised rib on the neck. Part of the socket is broken. The axe has an internal shaft support. Triangular facet on the blade. Dark green patina, partially removed by fins. Baudou’s type C3. Length: 6 cm. Width: 3.8 cm above the edge. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
The axe was reportedly found in a mound on the farm. There is no further information on how it was found.
Location:
Sakstad (gnr. 18, 19), Meland, Hordaland
Dating:
Similar axes have been found in collections dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 6.
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.
Location:
Kvale (Årekol) (no. 99/5), Ullensvang, Hordaland
Local tradition:
The spring was associated with supernatural beings in local folklore.
Date:
Axes of the Fårdrup type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 1B.
Urn with cremated bones (B3875/a). It was made of clay tempered with sand, red/orange on the outside, gray on the inside. The urn was double-conical. There were 15 small holes along the widest part of the urn. There were only minor injuries. Height: 24.5 cm
Shards of a second urn (B3875/b), red/orange wares tempered with sand. The bottom shards indicate a conical shape. The surface is somewhat uneven. According to the original catalogue, this pot may have been used as a lid.
Arrowhead with tanges (B03875/c). The brown patina is almost completely removed. The pliers have a square cross-section. Baudous type V A. Length: 8.7 cm
Small double button with decoration (B3875/d). The top plate is raised and conical, and is decorated with concentric rings interspersed with two rows of vertical parallel lines. Width: 2 cm. Height: 1.7 cm
Small awl, broken at one end (B3875/e). When it was found there was a small point and a wooden handle, but both snapped and disintegrated when touched. One end has a round cross-section, while the other end has a square cross-section and ends in a small tongs. Length: 2.4 cm
Context:
Found in a long mound pile, in a small stone cist measuring 1.5 feet and built of slabs. A larger, collapsed stone coffin was found nearby in 1880. The mound was low.
Location:
Vest-Hassel, Farsund, Vest-Agder
Date:
Both the arrowhead and the button indicate a date to the Younger Bronze Age period 4.
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.
Photo: Svein Skare © Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Rimbareid (gnr. 62/3,4,7, gnr. 63/7), Fitjar, Hordaland
Date:
Swords of this type are dated to the Early Bronze Age period 3.
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.
Location:
Seim (no. 28), Odda, Hordaland
Date:
Early Bronze Age period 3
Dagger (B4299), here photographed together with flint dagger B5423. The shoulder is marked as a crescent-shaped border. The hem has an oval cross-section. The blade is somewhat damaged and the tip is broken. The end knob is square and has a round knob in the centre, this is somewhat damaged. The dagger is now dark green and heavily corroded. L 21 cm W 3.3 cm. Weight: 156 g. Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
Location:
Nordhuglo (gnr. 3/1), Huglo, Stord, Hordaland
Two pieces of soapstone mould for two different swords (B8757). The forms are relatively whole but in parts: one is glued together from four parts, the other from two parts. There is crushing damage at the breaks, but the blades of the swords can be reconstructed. Both swords have tangs, one is shorter than the other but has a longer tang. The forms measure L 59.6 cm x W 2.8 cm D 2.8 cm and L 47.5 cm x W 6.9 cm D 2.8 cm. The longest sword has measured L 56.5 cm W 4.8 cm. The other has measured L 50.2 cm W 4.5 cm.
Context:
Found around 1920 during fresh clearance at a depth of approx. 30 cm, almost on bedrock and close to a large rock. The place is 20-30 m from the farmhouse at Slottsvik.
Location:
Slottsvik (151/7), Ålesund, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
The swords are similar to those dated to the Younger Bronze Age period 4 and the forms are therefore dated as such.
Shaft hole axe with decoration, (B10300/a). Long and slender axe with a conical neck. The axe is hollow. There is decoration on the blade, around and between the shaft holes, and on the neck and neck. The blade has three rows of running spirals near the edge. Two parallel lines run along the sides of the blade. There are parallel lines and triangles/zigzags under the shaft hole. There are three rows of three spirals each between the shaft hole on the broad side of the axe. The neck has a pattern of transverse parallel lines and zigzag below and above a row of running spirals. The neck is decorated with parallel lines, zigzags and oblique lines, while the top of the collar has lines and zigzags. The brown patina has disintegrated in several places. Length: 29 cm Width: 6.8 cm above the edge Weight: 939 g
Shaft hole axe with decoration, (B10300/b). The axe is broken at the shaft hole and the neck is missing. Unlike the other axe, this ax is massive. The blade is narrower than B10300/a, and has grooves from the shaft hole to the curved edge. There is decoration on the blade, the sides and around the shaft hole. The blade has transverse parallel lines and bead-like decoration about 2 cm from the edge, followed by a set of six interlocking spirals in two rows, a set of four interlocking spirals in two rows, then a vertical row of five spirals ending at the shaft hole. There are vertical ribs in relief between the shaft holes. Below the shaft holes and along the side facets are parallel lines and beads, which «frame» the side facets. There is also a line pattern on a preserved fragment of the rim of the shaft hole. The brown patina has dissolved and little has been preserved. Length: 21.1 cm Width: 7 cm above the edge Weight: 1030g
Location:
Lunde, Vindafjord (formerly Ølen), Rogaland
Context:
Found in a spring, «Slettakjelda», near a clock. Gravel was dug up and the axes were found in the gravel; it was at approx. 50 cm deep.
Date:
Early Bronze Age, period 2
Fragmented fibula with spiral (B3678). Only a small fragment of the spiral’s upper part and the pin are preserved today, but the arch was apparently present when the fibula was found. The needle has a dark green patina with some golden spots and some corrosion, while the coil and fragment are corroded. Length: 7.4 cm Width: 1.2 cm (spiral) Photo: Svein Skare © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Context:
Found in a small cist in a cairn. The cist contained burnt bones and the fibula. According to Per Fett (1951), it is possible that the find was made on another farm, Hatlebrekke (no. 57) and that due to a misunderstanding it was attributed to Ristesund; but the find definitely came from a burial, which was not professionally excavated.
Location:
Ristesund (gnr. 61), Sande, Møre & Romsdal
Date:
Fibulae of this type are generally dated to Early Bronze Age period 2 or 3. As the pin head is not preserved, a more precise dating cannot be given.
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.
A small arm ring formed from a bronze plate. (B3295c) The hoop has pointed ends, and one is broken off and missing. The surface has five rounded ribs that end in points at each end. It has a dark green patina and there is some corrosion towards the ends. The size indicates that it probably belonged to a child. A similar find has been found in Sweden and one in Poland. W 4.9 cm. Photo: Adnan Icagic © University Museum in Bergen, CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
