The Mästermyr Find: A Viking Age Tool Chest from Gotland

The chest was found in Mastrmyr on the the island of Gotland, Sweden in 1936. More than 200 objects were found in and around it. Most are tools that were used by blacksmiths and carpenters, many of them amazingly modern in appearance. Contents......Page 4 Preface......Page 5 1. The circumstances of the find......Page 6 The Chest......Page 10 Iron chain......Page 11 Keys, lock parts and pad-locks......Page 12 Cauldrons, (?)bucket and griddle......Page 13 Three bells......Page 14 Carpenters' and (?)blacksmiths' iron tools......Page 15 Other tools and objects......Page 19 Indeterminate objects and fragments......Page 20 Miscellaneous fragments......Page 21 A find from Mästermyr in 1981......Page 23 3. Pre-medieval comparative material......Page 24 The skills of the Viking Age smith......Page 27 The locks......Page 29 The fire-grid......Page 30 The bells......Page 31 The steelyard......Page 32 Metalwork: iron and steel......Page 33 Metalwork:metals other than iron......Page 34 The Smith......Page 35 Woodwork......Page 37 5. Age of the find......Page 40 Appendix I Geological analysis of the Mästermyr site......Page 44 Appendix II Metallographic examination of some iron objects from Mästermyr......Page 49 Appendix III Wood determinations......Page 53 Bibliography......Page 54 Index......Page 58 Plates......Page 60 Contents 4 Preface 5 1. The circumstances of the find 6 2. Catalogue 10 The Chest 10 Iron chain 11 Steelyard 12 Keys, lock parts and pad-locks 12 Cauldrons, (?)bucket and griddle 13 Three bells 14 Fire-grid of iron 15 Carpenters' and (?)blacksmiths' iron tools 15 Other tools and objects 19 Indeterminate objects and fragments 20 Miscellaneous fragments 21 A find from Mästermyr in 1981 23 3. Pre-medieval comparative material 24 The skills of the Viking Age smith 27 4. Some ethnological aspects of the find 29 The chest 29 The locks 29 The chain 30 The fire-grid 30 The bells 31 The cauldrons 32 The griddle 32 The steelyard 32 The trace-rings 33 Metalwork: iron and steel 33 Metalwork:metals other than iron 34 The Smith 35 Woodwork 37 5. Age of the find 40 Appendix I Geological analysis of the Mästermyr site 44 Appendix II Metallographic examination of some iron objects from Mästermyr 49 Appendix III Wood determinations 53 Bibliography 54 Index 58 Plates 60