Mästermyr chest

Mästermyr chest

The Mästermyr chest is a Viking Age (793–1066) tool chest found in the Mästermyr mire west of Hemse on the island of Gotland, Sweden. It is the largest tool find from that era in Europe.

History

During the Viking Age, the area where Mästermyr mire is located used to be a lake. The mire was drained in 1902–10.[1] In October 1936, the chest was found by farmer Hugo Kraft in a field owned by Emil Norrby in Snoder, Sproge near Hemse.[2] It was found in an area that was plowed for the first time.[3]

The chest is on display in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.[4]

Find

Back and side of the chest

Most of the find had been placed in the chest, but there were also objects around it such as three bronze cauldrons, three bells and a fire-grid of iron.[2] A chain, made up of 26 figure-of-eight shaped links, was wrapped around it.[2] It served both as an extra lock and handle since the chest was too heavy for the original handle.[5] The chest and the other items had probably been placed in a boat which capsized and sank in the lake.[6] Another theory is that the chest was temporarily hidden at the water's edge.[2]

The chest contained Viking-era blacksmithing and woodworking tools. It also contained several products of such work, including elements of several locks.[7] The chest and its contents provide a valuable insight into technology during the Viking Age.

The chest, 90 cm (35 in) long, 26 cm (10 in) wide and 24 cm (9.4 in) high, was made of oak with iron hinges and lock.[3] It was intact despite the rough encounter with the plow. It was rectangular with a slightly curved lid and flat bottom. The bottom was joined to the ends via a mortise and through tenon. Pegs were used to attach the sides to the bottom and end pieces. The ends and sides were trapezoid and slightly angled.[7] A lock wroght from iron was on the front side of the chest.[5]

Given the wide range of tools and objects in varying styles in the find and the lack of coins or other chronological markers, it has been impossible to determine an exact date for the chest. The wider term "Viking Age" around 1000, is used for dating it.[2]

Contents of the chest

The chest contained over 200 tools and blacksmith works or works in progress, making it the largest Viking tool find in Europe.[6] The tools resemble early Roman tools, now on display in museums in Germany, among those the Saalburg. Technological influences spread throughout Europe with the expansion of the Roman empire. The ensuing trade carried ideas and craftsmanship further to regions far from Rome.[5]

The content of the chest indicates that it belonged to a travelling craftsman who made repairs and produced new items. The tools shows that he was a smith and a carpenter and had some knowledge about locks and the work of a coppersmith and a cooper.[3] Among the items were three padlocks. They were inspired by Roman locks and of the same kind that were found at excavations in Birka.[3]

Contents

The fire-grid

Some of the tools and objects in the chest:[5][6][8][2]

Present-day replicas

Being one of the most complete collections of Viking tools in good condition, the chest and its contents is being replicated by enthusiasts all over the world. The tools and the chest are being made using the same techniques as the originals.[6][9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Carlquist, Gunnar, ed. (1937). Svensk uppslagsbok 18. Malmö: Svensk Uppslagsbok AB. p. 593-94.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Arwidsson, Greta; Berg, Gösta (1999). The Mästermyr find. Lompoc, CA: Larson Publishing Company. ISBN 0-9650755-1-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Tidigare publikationer om Mästermyrfyndet" [Earlier publications about the Mästermyr find]. www.historicallocks.com. Assa Abloy. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Föremål 107095. SHM 21592:132" [Object 107095. SHM 21592:132]. www.historiska.se. Swedish History Museum. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Beskrivning av kistan" [Description of the chest]. www.historicallocks.com. Assa Abloy. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Enderborg, Bernt. "Vikingatida verktyg från Mästermyr" [Viking Age tools from Mästermyr]. www.guteinfo.com. Guteinfo.com. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  7. 1 2 Arwidsson, Greta; Berg, Gösta (1983). The Mästermyr find: a Viking Age tool chest from Gotland. Stockholm: Vitterhets-, historie- och antikvitetsakad. ISBN 91-7402-129-X.
  8. ↑ "Objekt 21592:xxx Sproge Mästermyr". www.historiska.se. Swedish History Museum. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Kretchmar, Daniel. "Mastermyr". www.irontreeworks.com. Irontree Works, Inc. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Megan (24 January 2014). "Mastermyr Tool Chest Video – Coming Soon". www.popularwoodworking.com. F&W Media International. Retrieved 27 October 2015.

External links

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