Viking Jewelry Revealed in Sparkling Photos

LiveScience
August 3, 2013

Archaeologists excavating a Viking-age farm site at Vestervang, in Denmark, have uncovered several pieces of jewelry. This particular piece is made of copper alloy and shows an animal figure with a beadlike chain around its neck. Additionally three masked figures can also be seen. The object is about 2.9 inches in diameter and may have been worn as part of a necklace.

viking-jewelry-1

An up-close view of the face of the surviving animal figure. It appears to be an anthropomorphic image something common in Viking art. Originally the object would have had three figures like this. Such images may be of shamanic importance, helping to mediate between this world and another

viking-jewelry-2

This brooch appears to be from continental Europe and contains gold textured in a waffle shape, along with a cross that was made of red glass and semiprecious stone. The artifact was made between A.D. 500-750, apparently predating the Viking age farm site. It’s possible that it was acquired by a non-Christian at the site through exchange. It may have been worn by a high-ranking woman, perhaps on a dress.

viking-jewelry-3

The upper part of an oval double shelled brooch, just over two inches (5 centimeters) in size. Partly gilded with gold it contains dozens of tiny incisions along with raised areas and swirling decorations. It dates to between AD 850-950.

viking-jewelry-4

Read More