Um tíðarfesting av føroyskum fitisteinsfundum

Abstract

Soapstone does not occur naturally in the Faroes. The above article contains: 1. a general description of soapstone objects in the Faroes and a discussion of their distribution, and 2. an attempt to date with the aid of these according to type and the general circumstance of the finds.

The Table on p. 74—75 shows where the finds were made 45 in all; with the number of specímens of each type. The objects found total 174 plus 10 others where there is no information as to provenance. None were found in graves, a few were random finds, wbile the great majority were unearthed in human habitations particularly in excava> ted house ruins. Soapstone was chiefly used for pots, cooking vessels, and as weigths on hand spindles.

The following fiinds indicate the v i k i n g age: 1. cups whithout  stems (Ryghi7 729, Sheteligis 23); 2. pots with stems (Rygh^ 728); 3. sinkers for fishing lines (Jan Petersen I4, fig. 144; 4. weigths (for spindles) more or less arched on the upper surfjce (Jan Petersen 1*—16). And following finds indicate t h e m i d d l e age: 1. round, flats bottomed vessels with perpendicular sides both with and without attached handles (Grieg7, fig. 170); 2. lamps (Grieg7, fig. 41); 3. square vessels with thin sides. 4. baptismal fonts (Kjellberg u , fig. 1 and 4); 5. various objects from the bishop's residence and the cathedral at Kirkjubøur.