“One Of A Kind” Thor’s hammer unearthed in Sweden
Archaeologists in Sweden have unearthed what they call a “one of a kind” Thor’s Hammer amulet.
Loki’s lies, Odin’s staff and Thor’s hammer (Mjölnir) are well-known archetypes of Norse mythology. But now archaeologists in Sweden have unearthed a real Viking Age hammer of Thor.
In 2014, pop culture fans got excited and archeology watched with delight when an 11th century Thor’s Hammer amulet was discovered at Torshammere in Købelev, on the Danish island of Lolland. Ancient origin reported at the time that a set of runes marked on the 1,000-year-old amulet “solved the mystery of why Viking amulets were worn for protection.”
Now another Thor’s hammer protective amulet has been discovered in Ysby, Sweden.
Measuring up the 11th century Viking treasure
Ysby is a village in Laholm municipality, Halland county, on the west coast of Götaland, southern Sweden. Ancient Roman silver coins had previously been discovered at the archaeological site, and also at nearby early Iron Age naves. But according to a report on Cultural environment Halland this is the first time “a beautiful Hammer of Thor artifact” has been discovered.
Swedens radio (Sveriges Radio) reported that the delicate hammer-shaped amulet was cast in lead at the end of the 9th century. It measures about 3 centimeters (1.18 inches) in length. A small hole has been drilled in the top of the hammer to hold a twine or string. This suggests to the archaeologists that the hammer was worn around the neck as a protective amulet.
The cod hammer found in Ysby, Sweden was probably worn as a protective amulet. ( Cultural environment Halland )
Plating of Viking amulets
In Norse mythology, Mjönir was Thor’s magical air force that prevented the giants from destroying Asgard, the home of the gods. Therefore, in the Viking Age symbol was associated with protective powers. Although this latest discovery is being called “one of a kind”, you should know that hundreds of similar small hammer-shaped amulets have been discovered all over Scandinavia since the first millennium AD.
Per Wranning from Cultural environment Halland says the rare Viking Age artifact is currently being preserved by museologists. After these primary restoration techniques are performed, researchers will begin to analyze the metallic composition of the object. Similar artifacts were often silvered or gilded, but only after the restoration is complete will researchers know whether this particular artifact was plated or not.
Thor’s hammer soon after it was found. ( Cultural environment Halland )
A unique find, but how?
This Thor’s hammer is called a “one of a kind” because it represents the first such hammer ever discovered in Halland County, which is perhaps best known for 2014 discovered of a huge Viking hall. The drinking hall, which was over 50 meters long and 14 meters wide, was identified near Vadstena in Halland county.
Archaeologists from Stockholm University and Umeå University said “Our investigation shows that non-invasive geophysical measurements can be powerful tools for studying similar building foundations.” Although this was a major archaeological find dating back to the Viking Age, it does not have the finesse that the recently discovered Thor’s Hammer has/offers. Nor do scans of a building’s foundation offer the same deep social/folk history that the amulet does. So Torshammaren is really great news for Halland County and its residents.
This was a brave man’s hammer
Per Wranning said the Thor’s Hammer amulet was worn “during a religious transition period when the area began to be Christianized.” He added that it was most likely “a manifestation and desire not to be separated from Asatro, the worship of Nordic gods, when Christianity reached Scandinavia.”
One can therefore speculate that around 1,000 years ago a Viking raged against the machine (Christianity). He may have worn this amulet to protect himself, but not from any of the dark forces available to him from Norse mythology, rather from Christians. It should not be forgotten that to the Vikings, who worshiped a pantheon of Old Norse gods, Christians and their relatively new ‘one-god’ sacrilege were blasphemous and evil to the old ways of the North.
Top image: Thor’s Hammer amulet unearthed in Ysby, Sweden. Source: Patricia Torvalds/ Radio Sweden
By Ashley Cowie