Allgemein

A harsh bridle   Riding into battle on a flight-prone animal is a challenge. When extensive training is not possible, a harsh bridle such as this is used to keep the horse under control. This type of bridle features many elements designed to painfully prevent the horse from resisting the rider’s will.     Find site: Thorsberger bog  …

Trial and error At first glance, we see a completely preserved horse harness. However, it was randomly put together and supplemented from individual fragments by Conrad Engelhardt. With the help of glue, textiles and wax, he creatively redesigned it.  Find location: Thorsberger Moor  Material: Leather, silver, adhesive, textile, wax. 

Once Separated – Now Reunited    Once randomly divided between Schleswig and Copenhagen, all the finds were reunited for the Schleswig research project. What was once separated is now reunited. Through careful analysis of form, decoration, and signs of use, it was demonstrated that individual objects were originally part of a complete set of horse tack. This made…

Damaged Heads  Conrad Engelhardt discovered numerous iron spear and lance heads in the Nydam bog. Some of these weapons showed clear signs of damage. Engelhardt could only explain this by assuming that they had been intentionally damaged before being deposited in the lake.     Location: Nydam bog   Material: Iron  

Spears and Lances   Spears were used exclusively as throwing weapons, as their barbs made them difficult to pull out of a struck opponent. This severely impaired the victim’s ability to move and prevented the spear from being thrown back. Lance heads have no barbs. They were primarily used as thrusting weapons. Equipped with large, broad head, they were…

A Well-Rounded Affair   Shields in the first centuries A.D. were flat and roughly round. They consisted of several boards glued together. The wood was likely covered with raw hide, parchment, leather, or gut. Prior to that, shields had an elongated basic shape; they could be rectangular, oval, or hexagonal. The shields in this display case are assembled from unrelated…

Audio transcript: It is astonishing how much riding equipment I found in the Thorsberg Moor! There can be no doubt that the people who left their belongings in the moor were, at least in part, a horse-people, familiar with the use of horses and capable of outfitting them to a high standard. Just look at…

Audio transcript: Just look at these remarkable finds — beautifully crafted, silver-plated and decorated elements of a sword belt. In their form and workmanship, these pieces correspond so closely that there can be no doubt they belong together. One must imagine them mounted only a short distance apart on a leather strap. And yet, they…

Everyday Objects With the collection of Martin Rübner, Conrad Engelhardt received a wide variety of finds for the Flensburg collection. Among them were objects that offer a first glimpse into the daily lives of their former owners. 1) Knife handle. 2) Roman razor. 3) Belt buckle. 4) Fibula. Material: Copper alloy Parts of Horse Harnesses…