BAL-HV33

Gaming piece

ÞJMS — Reykjavík Iceland Museum ID: 6/1863-7 Featured

Seated human-like figurine

Material

whale bone

Object Type

Gaming piece

Period

settlement period, viking age

Date

900 CE – 1000 CE

Museum

Þjóðminjasafn Íslands

Location

Reykjavík

Conservation

Fair

Created by

Valerio Punzi

Statuette represents a human figure, probably a man, holding his beard. Hands are visible even though one of the arms was damaged. The face was carved geometrically as suggested by the flattened hair, the rectangular nose and mouth, and rounding eyes. The bottom presents a damaged stepped platform.

References

View at Museum View on Sketchfab

3D model courtesy of the source museum via Sketchfab.

Find Site Information

Region

North-east Iceland

Municipality

Þingeyjarsveit

Farm

Baldursheimur

Farm #

1

Find Category

gravfunn

Find Year

1860

Period

settlement period, viking age

Country

Iceland

Latitude

65.5200000

Longitude

-17.0566940

System

WGS84

View on Map

Zooarchaeological Data

Skeletal Element

Unknown

Preservation State

Fair

Material & Technology

Object Type

Gaming piece

Category

Iceland

Raw Material

whale bone

Manufacturing Stage

Tertiary

Height	3.9 cm
Diam.	2.9 cm

Manufacturing Stage	Tertiary
Skeletal Element	Unknown
Conservation Status	Fair
Notes	The statuette shares a similar concept and forms with the Bronze Statuette of Eyrarland, found close to Akureyri in 1816, and exhibited at Þjóðminjasafn. It was dated to the same period.