Furreby-hjulet
Søren Christian Krogh
The Furreby Wheel In the summer of 1959 I found a little bronze wheel at in Vendsyssel. It lay on wind-blown slope by sea among potsherds from Roman Iron-Age, arrowheads and sherds Late Neolithic, steatite Viking Period.The (Figs. 1 .and 2: 1) is same type as wheels Oseberg wagon (and one Lindholm Høje) (fig. 2-3) which have large hub broad fellow, consisting several pieces fixed together dowels. number spokes same, 12, there are also 12 similar Grave 844 Birka fig. 4-7. We know that this occur women's graves they hung breast suspended neck chain or string, employing either hole an eye felloe. Judging stylized Carolingian plant ornamentation, wheel, must be considered native product, should assigned to period around just following 900 A. D.Wheel ornaments all prehistoric periods subsequent invention spoked and, Lapland least, Early Middle Ages.The Anglo-Saxons, Merovingians Alamanni were sometimes buried with miniature wheels. case Alamanni, exclusively graves, having featured decorative discs small round bags belt. Similar been recovered Nordic finds (e. g. Gotland Bornholm). Contemporary accompanying gold bracteates, wheel­shaped gold. From Iron-Age numerous finely deco­rated ornaments.In Yugoslavia, rich grave Illyrian prince Iron Age contained string amber beads 4: 5). Small could hang fibulae 1-2). Pre-Roman Age, for suspension relatively common Denmark, especially hub­ring centre 3) -a was current South Germany early Period II Bronze 4).In most Europe Asia) ­especially Urnfield Hallstatt Periods 5: Scandinavia, examples Härnevi Uppland Magleby, Nørrekjær Zealand 3). Wheel­shaped attachment cheek guards horses' bits occur.It seems origin sought Age. They commonly Mycenean 6: 1-3), perhaps, like chariots wheels, their Anatolia Orient. Mycenae, custom bearing spread into Europe, often connection trade. Suddenly, pins, 4), presumably originated cross between Unêtice pins disc-shaped head pendants.From period, unique Danish find oak-coffin burial, apparently lain interred woman. size (17.7 cm. diameter) exceeds both wagon-wheels other ornaments, but nevertheless belong latter group.The conventional interpretation sun emblems, fact Sumerians, Babylonians Assyrians, where necklaces symbols planet Venus moon 8: On hand, meant something quite different Iranians, whose four-spoked earth six-spoked celestial wheel. Christian art attains new significance: victory monogram Christ. To Gauls, emblem sky- thunder god Taranis, Buddhists eight-spoked symbol eightfold path attainment Nirvana. Among Romans, borne children soldiers protective amulets, present day figure pendants horse harness, ward off "evil eye".It therefore very difficult say what significance ornament has had its wearer, when it out context. would seem too hazardous take refuge theory, so many interpretations possible.Søren Krogh
Kuml