Cite this as: Heen-Pettersen, A.M. 2021 Evidence of Viking trade and 'Danelaw' connections? Inset lead weights from Norway and the western Viking World, Internet Archaeology 56. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.56.10
| Museum/ Accession no. | Place | Region | Inset type | Brief description | Approx. dating | Finds context | Gender association | Assoc. grave-goods (if applicable) | Year of discovery | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TS15216 | Sandtorg | Harstad | DM | Roughly square (2.2cm x 2cm). The bronze mount has a geometric pattern comprising 4 small squares in the centre, enclosed by four larger L-shaped panels. Current weight: 24.2g | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | - | 2014 | Accession catalogue |
| T28144_2 | Mære | Steinkjer | DM | Roughly square (2cm x 1.9cm). The metalwork comprises a T-shaped projection of a harness mount with a close parallel in a complete example from Berdal, Vik (B602) .Current weight: 21.27g | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | - | 2019 | Accession catalogue |
| T1047 | Tønnøl | Bjugn | PM | Cylindrical. Current weight: 24.2g | 10th century | Burial | M | Balance scale, shield boss, arm ring of silver, whetstone | 1872 | Wamers 1985, 92-93 no. 27 |
| T3213 | Solstad | Skaun | DM | Cylindrical (dia. 4.3cm), with some damage to one edge. Current weight: 182.5g, although recorded as 221g in Petersen 1940, 87 | Viking Age | Uncertain/stray find | - | - | 1884 | Petersen 1940, 64 no. 87; Wamers 1985, 93 no. 29 |
| T27510 | Hol | Sunndal | DM | Square (1.9cm x 1.6cm) lead weight with bronze mount. Current weight: 22.4g | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | Metal detector find, arable land | 2016 | Accession catalogue |
| T18198c | Setnes | Rauma | c: DM | Cylindrical weight (Dia.2.6cm) with an enamelled bronze mount. Current weight 53.6g | 900-950 (Marstrander 1963, 155) | Burial | F | Seal/mount, in openwork silver (Insular), balance scale, silver mount from a crosier (Insular), hanging bowl (Insular), complete reliquary shrine (Insular), trefoil brooch, fragment of a further brooch (in Borre style), textile fragments, 21 beads (including 10 agate/calcedon beads), Dirhem (minted 768-769 e. Kr, reworked into a pendant), silver needle/rod, spindle whorl | 1961 | Marstrander 1963, 19-20; Wamers 1985, 94 no.38 |
| T18198d | - | - | d: DM | Weight with a gilded bronze mount in the form of a "four-footed animal with a snake-like body and a long neck". L. 3.4cm. Current weight 78.4g | - | - | - | - | - | Marstrander 1963, 21-22; Wamers 1985, 94 no.38 |
| B11131d | Kvistad | Ørsta | d:DM | Cylindrical (Dia.3.7cm). Slightly damaged. Current weight 97g. | 9th century | Burial | M | Balance, sword (JP H), axe (JP D), lead weight, hammer, sickle, lock, hinges and mounts of a small shrine, whetstone, boat nails | 1957 | Wamers 1985, 94 no.43 |
| B11131e | - | - | e: DM | Square lead weight (2.0cm x 1.7cm) with bronze mount. Slightly damaged. Current weight 30g | - | - | - | - | - | Wamers 1985, 94 no.43 |
| B4511i | Hopperstad | Vik | i: DM | T-shaped (2.7 x 2.1cm) with the upper frame curved like a hearth formed by two birds. Current weight: 41.5g | Viking Age | Burial | F | 2 hanging bowls (Insular), bronze bowl (Insular), bronze ladle (Insular), bronze bound yew bucket (Insular), balance scale, glass vessel (reticella), glass flask/small vessel, kufic silver coin, bronze key (R456), 1 silver bead, 3 agate/calcedon beads, 37 glass beads, whale bone-plaque (very fragmented), textile fragments, iron spit/staff with a decorated bronze handle, 11 loom weights (9 lost), strike-a-light, frying pan, weaving sword, horse 2 bridles and rattle, mill stones (lost), shrine/box remains (lock, nails, hinges), spoon-shaped auger, possible linen smoother of glass, knife, sickle, further iron objects/fragments of unknown function | 1887 | Petersen 1940, 51 no. 63; Wamers 1985, 97 no.64; Sørheim 2011, 40 |
| B4511k | - | - | k: DM | Formed like a animal head '"with a strongly upwardly bent snoth" (3m x 1.7cm). Current weight: 46.5g | - | - | - | - | - | Petersen 1940, 51 no. 63; Wamers 1985, 97 no.64; Sørheim 2011, 40-41 |
| S1982 | Håland | Vindafjord | DM | Incomplete. Surviving dimensions: L.3.7cm x 2.5cm. Current weight: 60.33g | 900-950 | Burial | M | Tin-coated balance scale, 3 glass beads, sword (JP P), 2 spearheads, 5 arrowheads (R 539), axe (JP E), knife, shield boss, iron handle (for casket/box), nail, 36 clench bolts, wood fragments | 1897 | Petersen 1940, 37 no.40; Wamers 1985, 98-99 no.80; accession catalogue |
| S1981 | Håland | - | DM | Square lead weight (3.2cm x 3cm) with bronze mount. Current weight: 71.184g The bronze mount is lost | - | - | - | - | - | Petersen 1940, 37 no.40; Wamers 1985, 98-99 no.80 |
| S12591_1 | Tjora | Sola | DM | Cylindrical (Dia.3.5cm). Current weight: 49.15g | - | Metal detector find | - | - | 2010 | Accession catalogue |
| S14112 | Husabø | Stavanger | DM | Square mount (3.3cm x 2.9cm) with some lead preserved on the reverse. | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | - | 2018 | Accession catalogue |
| B1856 | Tårland | Hå | DM | Cylindrical (Dia.4.5cm). Weight: 194.683g | Viking Age | Uncertain | - | 2 further lead weights (without bronze mounts) | 1866 | Petersen 1940, 28-31 no.26; Wamers 1985, 101 no.102 |
| C52507/67k | Kaupang | Larvik | Zoomorphic copper-alloy weight | Shape of an animal head. L. 3.5cm. Current weight: 19.6r. | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 175 |
| C52507/69Plo | Kaupang | Larvik | DM | Cylindrical. Dia. 2.1cm. Current weight: 33.1g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 172 |
| C52517_419 | Kaupang | Larvik | DM | Rectangular.Current weight: 9.67g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 172 |
| C52517_2168 | Kaupang | Larvik | DM | Roughly rectangular lead weight with bird-shaped copper-alloy mount. L. 2.6cm. Current weight: 15.88g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 170-71 |
| C52517_812 | Kaupang | Larvik | PM | Roughly rectangular. L. 2.5cm, W. 2.05cm. Current weight: 22.46g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 172 |
| C52517_1893 | Kaupang | Larvik | PM | Roughly triangular. L. 2.5cm. Current weight: 23.48g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 172 |
| C52519_15228 | Kaupang | Larvik | G | Cylindrical. Dia. 0.9cm. | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 170 |
| C52517/828 | Kaupang | Larvik | PM | Cylindrical. Current weight: 7.61g | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | 1998-2002 | Pedersen 2008, 170 |
| C58678_233 | Heimdalsjordet | Sandefjord | G | Cylindrical. Dia. 1.6cm. | Viking Age | Settlement | - | - | Pedersen and Rødsrud 2013, fig. 4 | |
| C62821 | Aalgaard | Lillestrøm | DM | Cylindrical. Dia. 2.5cm. | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | - | 2015 | Accession database |
| NMD-CMXXb | Berg | Hurum | DM | Square form (3.2cm x 3.8cm) | Viking Age | Burial | - | Balance, lead weight (not Insular), knife blade | 1822 | Petersen 1940, 23 no. 13; Pedersen 2008, 172-177 |
| NMD-CMXXi | Berg | - | DM | Zoomorphic | Viking Age | Burial | - | - | - | Pedersen 2008, 172-177 |
| C59480_13 | Asker Østre | Asker | DM | Rectangular (L.1.7cm, W.1.5cm). Current weight: 4.9g | Viking Age | Burial | - | Metal detector find from a mound | 1979 | Accession database |
| C7826 | Vik, Fjære | Grimstad | C | Cylindrical lead weight incorporating an Anglo-Saxon styca. Dia. 1.8cm, H.1.9cm. Current weight: 18.18g | Viking Age | Burial | M | Sword, axe, anvil, smith's hammer and tongs, anvil, forge-stone, lead weight (plain),soapstone mould, whetstone, 2 flints, iron fragments, ring of bronze | 1876 | Williams 1999, 24 no.7; Pedersen 2008, 168-169 |
| C7827 | Vik, Fjære | - | C | Cylindrical lead weight incorporating an Anglo-Saxon styca. Dia. 2cm, H.1.3cm. Current weight: 10.42g | - | - | - | - | - | Williams 1999, 23 no. 6; Pedersen 2008, 168-169 |
| C59791 | Missingen/Åkeberg | Råde | DM | Cylindrical (dia. 2.5cm). Current weight 21.9g | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | Metal detector find | 2014 | Accession catalogue |
| KHM Aks. 2017/1086 | Elgestad Vestre | Færder | DM | Roughly rectangular. Not yet conserved or catalogued by the time of this study. Therefore no dimensions are available | Viking Age | Metal detector find | - | Metal detector find | 2017 | Accession catalogue |
| Place | County | No. and inset type | Unique PAS- ID/ accession no. or other reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | |||
| Kiloran Bay | Colonsay | 7 (DM, including one with Scandinavian metalwork) | Graham-Campbell and Batey 1998, 118-22; Laing 1993, 110-11 |
| Little Dunagoil | Bute | 1 (DM, oval brooch) | Kruse 1992, 81 |
| Whithorn | Dumfries and Galloway | 1 (DM) | The Whithorn Trust: WIWMS Whit LD05.16 |
| Kirkton | Dumfries and Galloway | 1 (DM) | Future Museum |
| Lochmaben | Dumfries and Galloway | 1 (DM) | QLTR treasure trove in Scotland 2012/2013 |
| Talnotrie | Dumfries and Galloway | 1 (DM) | Graham-Campbell and Batey 1998, 109; Laing 1993, 110-12 |
| Dumbarton Rock | Dumbarton | 1 (G) | Hunterian Museum, GLAHM:A.1982.52 |
| England | |||
| Ulgham | Northumberland | 1 (DM) | NCL-D4EBD5 |
| Thirston | Northumberland | 1 (G) | DUR-8BB722 |
| - | Said to be from Northumberland | 1 (DM) | The British Museum: 1993,0502.2 |
| - | Said to be from Northumberland | 1 (DM) | The British Museum: 1993,0502.1 |
| Breast Mill Beck | Cumbria | 1 (DM) | The Dock Museum: BAWMS.09655 |
| Longtown | Cumbria | 1 (DM) | LANCUM-1943D1 |
| Crosby Ravensworth | Cumbria | 1 (DM) | LANCUM-683C84 |
| Allithwaite | Cumbria | 1 (DM) | LANCUM-C07CE5 |
| Roosecote | Cumbria | 1 (C) | LANCUM-4EDD1E |
| Arcdeacon Newton | Darlington | 1 (G) | DUR-CF57C4 |
| Bedale | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | DUR-181FC7 |
| Wath Harrogate | North Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-5F1A6E |
| Hunsingore | North Yorkshire | 1 (S) | SWYOR-2E8410 |
| Sheriff Hutton | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | SWYOR-4F2B32 |
| Selby | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | SWYOR-4A40C5 |
| Tadcaster, Selby | North Yorkshire | 1 (S) | SWYOR-EF9E81 |
| Near Stamford Bridge | North Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | Kershaw 2020, 121 |
| Near Stamford Bridge | North Yorkshire | 1 (G) | YORYM-01F154 |
| Bagby | North Yorkshire | 1 (C) | YORYM-8054B2 |
| Aldwark (ARSNY) | North Yorkshire | 10 weights inset with both DM and PM, and 2 (C) | Hall et al. 2020, table 2 (Sf: 1566-1570, 1572, 1577, 1578, 1607, 1625, 1699, 1700 |
| York | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | NCL-1C8B61 |
| Clementhorpe Abbey site, York | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | Kruse 1992, 81 |
| North Stainley with Sleningford | North Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | YORYM-5FCC17 |
| - | England, 'said to be found near Malton, North Yorkshire' according to Williams 1999, 30 | 1 (C) | The British Museum: 2000,0201.1 |
| Malton | North Yorkshire | 1 (G, possible fragment of bead or bangle) | DUR-8BCD07 |
| Kilnwick | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (DM, oval brooch) | Kershaw 2013, 226 |
| Beswick | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-086AAB |
| North Cave | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | YORYM-9624E2 |
| North Cave | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | SWYOR-5CE8F1 |
| Skirpenbeck | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (C) | LVPL-5E4310 |
| Skirpenbeck | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-6AD518 |
| Skirpenbeck | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-6B45F7 |
| Skirpenbeck | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-6AC476 |
| Skirpenbeck | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (PM) | YORYM-6AE013 |
| Sancton | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (C) | Kruse 1992, 82 |
| South Newbald | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 25 |
| Not recorded | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 25 |
| - | Said to be from East Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | The British Museum: 2000,0101.2 |
| - | Said to be from East Yorkshire | 1 (DM) | The British Museum: 2000,0101.3 |
| Walton, Leeds | West Yorkshire | 1 (C) | SWYOR-D00CF2 |
| Darrington | West Yorkshire | 1 (DM, trefoil brooch) | SWYOR-8A1BCA |
| Near Furness | Lancashire | 1 (DM) | Youngs 1989, 142, no. 135 |
| Gisburn | Lancashire | 1 (DM) | LANCUM-107126 |
| Newton area | Lancashire | 1 (DM) | LANCUM-45FF34 |
| Chester | Cheshire | 1 (DM) | LVPL-9C24B6 |
| Chesire Alvanley | Cheshire | 1 (DM) | LVPL-1778 |
| Whitchurch | Shropshire | 1 (PM) | HESH-56AE46 |
| Cotham | Nottinghamshire | 1 (C) | DENO-FC3487 |
| Dunham-on-Trent | Nottinghamshire | 1 (PL) | NLM-941282 |
| Kirton | Nottinghamshire | 1 (DM) | DENO-D24764 |
| Gaddesby | Leicestershire | 1 (G) | PUBLIC-57FD2D |
| Stanton by Bridge | Derbyshire | 1 (DM) | DENO-650DB1 |
| Bigby | Lincolnshire | 2 (PM) | NLM-692553, NLM-D834A5 |
| Whitton | Lincolnshire | 1 (C) | NLM-8F9E07 |
| West Lindsey | Lincolnshire | 1 (DM) | LIN-F6BD25 |
| Lissington, West Lindsey | Lincolnshire | 1 (C) | LIN-956197 |
| Swinhope, West Lindsey | Lincolnshire | 2 (PM) | NLM-21C354, NLM-5BA62D |
| Normanton | Lincolnshire | 1 (DM) | LEIC-C6C96A |
| Humberside Scawby | Lincolnshire | 1 (C) | NLM-5766 |
| Near Spilsby | Lincolnshire | 1 (G) | LIN-F8D16A |
| Crowle | Lincolnshire | 1 (P) | NLM-B994C1 |
| Bardney | Lincolnshire | 1 (C) | LIN-3DFD27 |
| Owersby | Lincolnshire | 1 (DM) | SWYOR-CC1E24 |
| Torksey | Lincolnshire | 37 inset lead weight. Both metalwork and coins are used. | Hadley and Richards 2016, 39, 49 |
| Torksey | Lincolnshire | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 25 |
| Torksey | Lincolnshire | 1 (DM) | SWYOR-E8F5D6 |
| Lighthorne | Warwickshire | 1 (DM) | SUR-307155 |
| Water Newton | Cambridgeshire | 1 (DM) | DUR-8BA064 |
| Colton | West Midlands | 1 (C) | HESH-07F155 |
| Tarrant Hinton | Dorset | 1 (DM) | DOR-D1CD4E |
| Weymouth | Dorset | 1 (DM) | BH-1DA0A5 |
| Wareham | Dorset | 2 (C) | British Museum: 1991,0304.1; Williams 1999, 29 |
| Beeston with Bittering | Norfolk | 1 (DM) | NMS-03F926 |
| North Tuddenham | Norfolk | 1 (DM) | NMS-925741 |
| Barnham Broom | Norfolk | 1 (DM) | NMS-0D47D0 |
| Coltishall | Norfolk | 1 (PM) | NMS-8F3C0C |
| Ryburgh | Norfolk | 1 (S) | NMS-7F2C31 |
| Great Dunham | Norfolk | 1 (DM) | NMS-FEDA1C |
| Bawburgh | Norfolk | 1 (PM) | NMS-C8B931 |
| Narford | Norfolk | 1 (DM) | NMS-C85DE6 |
| Walsingham | Norfolk | 1 (C) | NMS-16C428 |
| Near Lowestoft | Suffolk | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 25 |
| Risby | Suffolk | 1 (DM) | SF-20A507 |
| Mildenhall | Suffolk | 1 (DM) | Kruse 1992, 81 |
| Thetford | Suffolk | 1 (DM) | Kruse 1992, 81 |
| Ixworth | Suffolk | 1 (DM) | Youngs 1989, 142, no. 136 |
| Nr. Beccles | Suffolk | 1 (PM) | SF-F1F814 |
| Campsay Ash | Suffolk | 1 (PM) | SF9421 |
| Colchester | Essex | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 25 |
| Chrishall | Essex | 1 (PM) | BH-D4FA0E |
| Near Faversham | Kent | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 24 |
| Ilchester | Somerset | 1 (DM) | SOMDOR-9FE618 |
| - | England, no further information concerning location | 1 (C) | The British Museum: 1991,0304.2 |
| - | England, no further information concerning location | 1 (C) | Williams 1999, 31 |
| Wales | |||
| Llanbedrgoch | Anglesey | 2 (DM) | Redknap 2007, no. 43 |
| Brynsiencyn | Anglesey | 1 (DM) | Redknap 2007, no 42 |
| Freswater West, Castlemartin | Dyfed | 1 (DM) | Kruse 1992, 81 |
| Wenvoe | The Vale of Glamorgan (Wales) | 1 (DM) | NMGW-07268F |
| Ireland | |||
| River Blackwater | Shanmullagh and Ballycullen, Co. Armagh | 8 inset lead weights (DM), 1 (C) | Bourke 2010, 26 |
| Woodstown | Co. Waterford | 6 (DM) | Ó Floinn 2014, 181-85 |
| Islandbridge | Co. Dublin | 9 (DM) from two or three different graves | Harrison and Ó Floinn 2014, 443-73 |
| Coolure Demesne | Co. Westmeath | 3 (DM) | Kelly 2007 |
| Dublin town | Co. Dublin | 18 ‘copper-alloy encased’ lead weights are listed in Wallace 2016, but a detailed overview of this material is not published | Wallace 2016, 361 |
| Craddockstown North | Co. Kildare | 1 (DM) | Ní Cheallacháin 2019, 36-37 |
Internet Archaeology is an open access journal based in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. Except where otherwise noted, content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY) Unported licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that attribution to the author(s), the title of the work, the Internet Archaeology journal and the relevant URL/DOI are given.
Terms and Conditions | Legal Statements | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Citing Internet Archaeology
Internet Archaeology content is preserved for the long term with the Archaeology Data Service. Help sustain and support open access publication by donating to our Open Access Archaeology Fund.
Home