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Typology of Fire Strikers From the Viking Age Norway

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I would like to present my typology of fire strikers used in Viking Age Norway, more particulary 700-1000 AD. This typology is based on Jan Petersen’s book Vikingetidens redskaper (Petersen 1951: 433-438), the project UNIMUS and some new finds. The size of fire strikers varies from 4 cm to 14.2 cm. The most common lenght is between 7-9 cm. Strikers have been found mainly in men’s graves (81.5% to 18.5%). Sometimes, they were found together with flintsstones. They are almost always designed in such a way that they can be hung.

The list is not complete. I am sure there are many other finds that are not included. Please, let me know if you find what I missed. Thank you.


Type 1

Type 1.1.1.

Frequency
More than 100 finds, for example C3463 (Søndre Marstein, Oppland).

Comment
The most common type of Norwegian fire strikers, so called Rygh 426. This type occures in many graves from 700-1000 AD (almost one third of all finds comes from the 10th century). Some of them have a higher (triangular or rounded) middle part, but not so significant as Type 1.1.2. In case of C59045/15 (Grimsdalen, Innlandet), the upper edge is decorated by a separate band with wavy edges on the both sides of the striker.

C3463, which belongs to what I call Type 1.1.1.

Type 1.1.2.

Frequency
Unique, represented by the find deposited in Tromsø Museum.

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a high rounded middle part. Petersen does not mention the period of usage; we can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

The find from Tromsø Museum, which belongs to what I call Type 1.1.2.


Type 1.1.3.

Frequency
Unique, represented by C6780 (Berge, Sogn og Fjordane).

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a high rounded middle part, formed by a rod with open space between. Petersen does not mention the period of usage; we can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

C6780, which belongs to what I call Type 1.1.3.


Type 1.2.1.

Frequency
Petersen states “only a few finds”, for example: B7833l (Myklebost, Sogn og Fjordane), B7894n (Gutdalen, Sogn og Fjordane), C6731 (Bø, Oppland), C20168l (Torshov, Akershus), T7707 (Stor-Skomo, Nord-Trøndelag).

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a high (triangular or rounded) middle part and short, curved ends. In the case of C20168l, the “body” (middle part) is decorated with a twisted iron wire. In the case of C6731 and B7894n, the upper edge is created by a separate band that stands out from the body. Petersen does not mention the period of usage; we can say that the 9th and the 10th centuries are sure.

C20168l, which belongs to what I call Type 1.2.1.


Type 1.2.2.

Frequency
Unique, represented by C32205/220 (Dokka, Oppland).

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a high rounded middle part and short, curved and pointed ends. The “body” (middle part) has a hole inside. We can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

C32205/220, which belongs to what I call Type 1.2.2.


Type 1.2.3.

Frequency
Petersen states “some finds”, represented by B6300k (Uglum, Sogn og Fjordane) and C24193f (Nedre Bakkene, Oppland).

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a high rounded middle section formed by 2 or more narrow smooth / twisted rods with open spaces between them. This type has short, curved and pointed ends. We can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

B6300k, which belongs to what I call Type 1.2.3.


Type 1.2.4.

Frequency
Unique, represented by C21986f (Åsland, Vest-Agder).

Comment
A variation of R 426 with a very high rounded middle section formed by a loop from a metal band with open space between. This type has short, curved and pointed ends. We can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

C21986f, which belongs to what I call Type 1.2.4.


Type 2

Frequency
Uncommon, represented by C32114 (an unknown farmstead in Vågå, Oppland).

Comment
A simple iron fire striker with open ends curved to inside. It is surprising there are no more examples of this type. We can guess that the 9th or 10th centuries are probable.

C32114, which belongs to what I call Type 2.


Type 3

Frequency
Uncommon, represented by T10295 (Drøydalen, Sør-Trøndelag), T12723f (Nedre Mossigan, Nord-Trøndelag), T13758h (Setnan, Nord-Trøndelag).

Comment
A very simple iron fire striker with open ends and enlarged middle part. Petersen dated examples of this type to 700-950 AD. One example comes from man’s, others from women’s graves. This type is typical for Trøndelag regions.

T10295, which belongs to what I call Type 3.


Type 4

Frequency
Unique, represented by B5161 (Nes, Nordland).

Comment
An interesting type belonging to the first half of the 10th century, 8 cm long. The ends are bent outwards and form open arches. In addition to the striking surface, the body is made of a wavy rod.

B5161, which belongs to what I call Type 4.


Type 5

Frequency
Uncommon, represented by B4488a-b (Tjentland, Rogaland), B4830 (Stamnes, Hordaland), B6146e (Torblå, Hordaland), B7080m (Himle, Hordaland).

Comment
A rentagular iron fire striker with twisted ends, similar to a belt buckle. Petersen dated this type to the 2nd part of the 10th century. All examples come from men’s graves. This type is typical for Rogaland and Hordaland regions.

B7080m, which belongs to what I call Type 5.


Type 6

Frequency
Uncommon, represented by B4336b (Åse, Nordland), B13137a (Omenås, Møre og Romsdal), T4144 (Hanset, Møre og Romsdal), T13145k (Flemma, Møre og Romsdal).

Comment
A fire striker with an iron base and a bronze handle, shaped to two riders facing each other. Petersen dated this type to the 2nd part of the 10th century. 3 examples come from men’s graves. This type is considered to be an eastern import, since the closest analogies come from Germany-Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Gotland, Latvia, Russia, Hungary and Bulgaria.

B13137a, which belongs to what I call Type 6.

Distribution map, according to Lehtosalo-Hilander 1982: Fig. 21.


Type 7

Frequency
Uncommon, represented by B4610y (Eide, Sogn og Fjordane), B7132 (Æri, Sogn og Fjordane), C15215 (Kaupang, Vestfold), C15981 (Fonbæk, Akershus), C21437b (Nordkvelle, Vestfold), K/1953 grav VI (Bikjholberget, Kaupang, Vestfold), S2312a (Kjosavik, Rogaland).

Comment
A V-shaped (so called “tongue-shaped”) fire striker with a central two-pieced handle casted in bronze. Petersen dated this type to the 9th century. Some examples come from men’s, others from women’s graves. This type is considered to be an eastern import, since the closest analogies come from Sweden (Helgö and Birka), Finland, Poland and Estonia.

C15215, which belongs to what I call Type 7.


Type 8

Frequency
Unique, represented by T20362 (Egge, Nord-Trøndelag).

Comment
An iron oval shaped fire striker with central handle made in openwork. RTG showed traces of copper alloy coating. Length: 11,7 cm, width: 3 cm, thickness: 0,5 cm. 10th century.

T20362, which belongs to what I call Type 8.


Unknown types

B11470ap (Fyling, Sogn og Fjordane). A bronze striker handle similar to the type 6.

C25592 (Søndre Vågen, Telemark). A damaged striker similar to the type 1.2, 3 or 4.


Miniature strikers

There were found several amulets of fire striker shape in Norway, at least 6 – B6657c (Trå, Hordaland), C3907 (Ringnes, Hedmark), C5358 (Haugen, Vestfold), C1671 (Nomeland, Aust-Agder), S4023d (Litland av Tau, Rogaland), T12338 (Høislo, Nord-Trøndelag).

The amulet found in the woman’s grave in Trå, Hordaland (B6657c).

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Bibliography

Lehtosalo-Hilander, Pirkko-Liisa (1982). Luistari II. The artefacts, Helsinki.

Petersen, Jan (1951). Vikingetidens Redskaper, Oslo.

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