The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Viking Crampon
12017-05-09T08:48:13-07:00Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295164563imageplain2017-05-17T14:09:33-07:00Kendall, Aaron. Crampon. Still Image, 2016. 402533. The Digital Archaeological Record. http://core.tdar.org/image/402553/hrh04-15.800-1100402533CC By attribution65.475480, -17.252532Ironthe Digital Archaeological RecordHrísheimar, IcelandViking AgeCameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295
12017-05-21T10:11:33-07:00Norse Iron Crampon8object pageplain2017-09-19T19:17:55-07:00While thisNorthern Icelandic crampon seems mundane, it tells a story of settlement and trade in a new land. The Viking Age piece is from a large find at Hrísheimar that includes everything from slag iron to beads to swords.[1] This crampon was an important tool in the Myvatn lake area, well known for its iron and natural resources.[2]
The Norse discovered Iceland in the 860’s and settled there, most notably by Ingólfur Arnarsonn, in 870’s. The Norse exploited Iceland for its flint, metal, and other raw materials. The area, mostly farmland or quarries, had very little trees, so contact with the mainland was essential for expansion. The people of Iceland, specifically the Myvatn area, traded extensively with Norway.[3] In 930, the Icelandic Norse began their own Icelandic Commonwealth. This period lasted a little over 300 years until Norway took over the island. Although Iceland was rich in resources, it was full of unforgiving terrain such as glacial fields and mountainous crags.
This crampon was most likely used by a worker or a farmer during the winter months in Iceland. Using leather to bind the crampon to the shoe, the iron prongs at the end stuck into the ice and snow. The tool then gained traction on snowy, icy regions when climbing. Apart from climbing, Scandinavians would put crampons on horse’s heads during fights.[4] They may have been put in a grave during a winter funeral to ensure safe travels to Hel as well.[5]
The Icelandic Norse played an essential part in the acquisition of raw goods to mainland Scandinavia. Metal tools, found in old excavation sites, are ubiquitous, especially around the Myvatn area. These towns not only imported metal, but fish, flint, and bone to the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. With its rusted metal and bent shape, this tool is a marker of the life and trade of the Icelanders during the Viking Age.
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