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STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHS

SLEIGH-BELL PENDANT (TYA 283: 17)

Type: Sleigh bell, iron.

Use: Amulet or jewel.

Site: Raisio, Ihala, Siiri cremation cemetery I.

Period: Viking Age

Dating: 800-1025 A.D.

Photographer: Arto Korhonen.

In the Viking Age sleigh bell pendants were attached to the horse briddle. In addition, women and children used them as pendants or decorations for clothing. It is possible that the belief existed that evil spirits or forest beasts could be expelled with the sound of bells.

This so-called pendant-fashion was probably of Eastern origin. From Russia, the pendants were spread via the trade-routes to Sweden, Finland and the Baltic countries. Pendants were made of bronze and iron. This one from Siiri, is manufactured of one square-shaped iron plate.

Sleigh-bell pendants are rather rare in the cemetries of Finland Proper (i.e. on the SW coast). In the provinces of Häme and Satakunta they are more common.They can be dated to the 10th and 11th centuries.

Sources:

• Cleve 11978: 122.
• Kivikoski 1973: Abb. 810, 1139.
• Lehtosalo-Hilander 1982: 64, 116-117.
• Manninen 1929: 98.
• Nallinmaa-Luoto 1978: 169-171.
• Salmo 1952: 349.

Archive number of items: TYA 546: 100.

Other related topics:

• Bronze.
• Jewels.
• Pendants.

Coordinates: x=100, y=30, z=17.16, r=40/58, 2nd layer.

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