Allgemein

Invisible Inscription    This fragment of a shield boss bears a runic inscription on the side not visible here. When mounted, it was therefore hidden. Such “invisible” inscriptions are not uncommon. They are frequently found on amulets, jewelry, or even runestones. Apparently, some runes were not intended to be read by humans. They may have been meant to fulfill a magical…

A Name in Runes    This sword scabbard fitting bears runic inscriptions on both sides. On the side visible here, the inscription reads “owlthuthewar.” This is interpreted as the male name “Wulthuthewar.” The rune o precedes the name. This is a so-called concept rune: each rune represents not only a sound but also a concept. The rune o written here…

Aelius Aelianus was here   1) Some of the shield bosses found in the Thorsberg and Nydam bogs are Roman imports. This piece bears the Roman inscription AEL·AELIANUS — a former owner? The dotted inscription was redrawn with white ink after its discovery.    Location: Thorsberg bogMaterial: Copper alloy  One Weapon – Two Worlds    2) Germanic swords were a hybrid of…

The Only One of Its Kind   This mask is unique in the Germanic world. Its prototypes can be found in the ceremonial masks of the Roman army.    This object, too, was severely damaged and deformed before it was deposited. Today, only traces of this remain to indicate this—because shortly after its discovery, attempts were made to restore…

Destroyed Witnesses  A surprising pattern emerges, particularly in the case of horse bridles and gold bracelets: the most valuable objects were destroyed or cut up more frequently than the less valuable ones. Is this because their owners were particularly important, and their possessions were therefore regarded as powerful? Perhaps the traces of destruction reflect the power and significance of these…

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.    Location: Thorsberg bogMaterial: Silver 

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.  Location: Thorsberg bog 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…