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The Dancing Beasts of Hvirring
I've never seen a piece like this before: it must be a top mount for something - box, horse yoke, staff?
Dr. Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, chairman of the Swedish Skeptics Society, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
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Category: Archaeology • Denmark
Posted on: November 28, 2011 8:20 AM, by Martin R
Here's a cool new detector find from Hvirring in central Jutland, Denmark. I've never seen a piece like this before: measuring only 45 mm in length, it must be a top mount for something - box, horse yoke, staff? But the motif, four dancing gripping beasts, and the style they're executed in, place the thing firmly in the 9th century. Note the little round ears and the cross-hatching on chest and rump.
Thanks to Dear Reader Jakob for the tip-off.
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Comments
Do you think this is the origin of the word "virrig"...? ;)
Posted by: ArchAsa | November 28, 2011 1:40 PM
They probably make a vhirring sound as they gyrate!
Posted by: Martin R | November 28, 2011 2:19 PM
"Snurrig" perhaps - like a 'fyrvepling'...
http://hednabutiken.se/symboler/fyrvappling-buckla
http://hednabutiken.se/symboler/fyrvappling-bronshange
Posted by: bonor | November 29, 2011 11:13 AM
Any relation of this object to ancient religious beliefs? What is the context?
Posted by: Thomas Ivarsson | November 29, 2011 1:32 PM
Almost certainly some relationship to forgotten religious beliefs. The context hasn't been investigated yet nor the location of the site disclosed.
Posted by: Martin R | November 29, 2011 4:56 PM
I know comparisons are odious, and your Hvirring bronze is wa-ay later, but it gives me a bit of a "Sutton Hoo whetstone" tingle.
Or even the iron staff-thingy from the same ship-burial, with its 4 sided/cardinal directions aspect.
I'll choose to ignore the suspected 'Swedish' affinities of some of the stuff from there, for now :^P
Posted by: dustbubble | November 30, 2011 3:56 PM