Birka money bag

AriAnson · Post by **AriAnson** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:29 am

Anyone see anything about these being around somewhere besides the Baltic coast of Sweden?

Cedri · Post by **Cedri** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:39 am

Ari I seem to recall there where similiar ones found in Russia and Hungary, I'll see if i can find the references tonight. I'll post the pattern scans tonight.

Ny Bjorn · Post by **Ny Bjorn** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:05 am

Hi all

Here's a VERY late input - I seldom frequent the AA nowadays - but since I was the archaeologist in charge of the re-examination of, among others, Grave Bj 949 I'll try to straight some things out:

1) there is indeed a plan over the grave; why my former colleagues haven't webbed it yet is beyond my knowledge though.
2) on the said plan it is clear that the bag was NOT mounted in the belt when it was deposited. Instead it seems to have been hanging from a separate strap. It shows no signs of being submitted to taphonomical disturbance - i.e. it was found more or less where it once was deposited.
3) the fur-lining was mounted with the hairs facing inwards - SÃ¶rling got it all wrong.
4) there are several other bags of the same type from Finland, the Baltic countries etc.

/N B

Ny Bjorn · Post by **Ny Bjorn** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:08 am

Here's a zoom of the plan. Each square is 29,69 mm in side. By 12) you see whats left of the dead man - his teeth...

/N B

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:49 am

Ny Bjorn wrote:Hi all

Here's a VERY late input - I seldom frequent the AA nowadays - but since I was the archaeologist in charge of the re-examination of, among others, Grave Bj 949 I'll try to straight some things out:

1) there is indeed a plan over the grave; why my former colleagues haven't webbed it yet is beyond my knowledge though.
2) on the said plan it is clear that the bag was NOT mounted in the belt when it was deposited. Instead it seems to have been hanging from a separate strap. It shows no signs of being submitted to taphonomical disturbance - i.e. it was found more or less where it once was deposited.
3) the fur-lining was mounted with the hairs facing inwards - SÃ¶rling got it all wrong.
4) there are several other bags of the same type from Finland, the Baltic countries etc.

/N B

Thanks very much Ny Bjorn. Was hoping you might see this thread.
Fur lined, eh ? That's curious. Wonder why they did that.
And definitely not a belt pouch.

Glad I hadn't started yet, since I was going to have the furry side out

Cedri · Post by **Cedri** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:25 am

Thanks Ny Bjorn

Excellent update, also appreciate the drawing post. Any of the other artifacts in the grave photographed, like the belt fitting as it would be nice to incorporate those with the finished bag.

Can you shed any light on the fittings, where they cast or hammered? I'm headed out today to get some wax to start the carving for the bag trim, which i plan to use as the pattern for the lost wax bronze.

Cedri · Post by **Cedri** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:26 am

Ari I owe you the new pattern layout, but the PDF was huge, PM me you email and i'll shoot it to you monday when i get back home.

Ny Bjorn · Post by **Ny Bjorn** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:17 am

The frame is both cast and hammered, the suspension-loops for instance are clearly hammered to shape. The buttons are cast (they are of the standard Caftan/Svita-type).

/N B

AriAnson · Post by **AriAnson** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:49 pm

Oh thank you so much for the new info!

Rev. George · Post by **Rev. George** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:50 pm

Fur lined, eh ? That's curious. Wonder why they did that.

Speculation:

1: No jingle Jangle. Cuz if you are worried enough about footpads and cutpurses to wear a pouch around your neck, rather than the belt, you don't want it to jingle

2. Resistance to coin flow- If you put the "grain" of the hair in the proper way, you could make it more difficult for the coins to fall out if the purse was upended.

-+G