History and Discovery
– Mästermyr mire used to be a lake, which was drained in 1902-10.
– The chest was found in October 1936 by farmer Hugo Kraft in a field owned by Emil Norrby in Snoder, Sproge near Hemse.
– It was discovered in an area that was plowed for the first time.
– The chest is now displayed in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.
Find and Speculations
– The Mästermyr chest contained various objects such as three bronze cauldrons, three bells, and an iron fire-grid.
– A chain with 26 figure-of-eight shaped links was wrapped around the chest, serving as an extra lock and handle.
– The chest and its contents were likely placed in a boat that capsized and sank in the lake.
– Another theory suggests that the chest was temporarily hidden at the water’s edge.
– The chest contained Viking-era blacksmithing and woodworking tools, providing valuable insights into technology during the Viking Age.
Contents of the Chest
– The chest contained over 200 tools and works in progress, making it the largest Viking tool find in Europe.
– The tools resemble early Roman tools, indicating the spread of technological influences through trade.
– The contents suggest that the chest belonged to a traveling craftsman skilled in blacksmithing, carpentry, locks, coppersmithing, and coopering.
– Among the items were three padlocks inspired by Roman designs found in Birka.
– Enthusiasts worldwide are replicating the chest and its contents using similar techniques.
References
– Carlquist, Gunnar, ed. (1937). Svensk uppslagsbok.
– Arwidsson, Greta; Berg, Gösta (1999). The Mästermyr find.
– Tidigare publikationer om Mästermyrfyndet (Earlier publications about the Mästermyr find).
– Föremål 107095. SHM 21592:132 Object 107095. SHM 21592:132.
– Beskrivning av kistan (Description of the chest).
External Links
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mästermyr chest.
– Toolbox from Mästermyr – The Swedish History Museum. Pictures of the box and contents.
– Mästermyr chest – Video about the chest and making a replica of it.
– Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mästermyr_chest&oldid=1188763069Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A4stermyr_chest
