Miniature Shields in the Viking Age: A Reassessment

Leszek Gardela, Kerstin Odebäck

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Miniature shields are some of the most intriguing metal objects found across
Scandinavia and the wider Viking world. They are mainly known from cremation and inhumation graves, in which they typically accompany women, but also from hoards, settlement sites, and trading ports. Various scholars have usually interpreted miniature shields as amulets and symbols of protection with either pagan or Christian connotations. By (re)assessing a large corpus of miniature shields from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Sweden, this paper seeks to nuance previous views on these objects and provides new thoughts on their different types, usage, and meaning.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftViking and Medieval Scandinavia
Vol/bind2018
Udgave nummer14
Sider (fra-til)81-133
Antal sider54
ISSN1782-7183
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2018

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