Ravens or Raptors? You Decide
The Swedish radio program Vetenskapsradion Historia often interviews archaeologists, and on April 24th they interviewed Dr. Kristina Jennbert of Lund University about her current research on falconry during the Iron Age and the Viking Age. The interview is in Swedish, but to summarize briefly in English, Jennbert has revisited the bird brooches found at Uppåkra, in view of archaeological remains including falcon bones deposited in rich graves which showed that falconry was an important pursuit of both men and women. She also reviewed the brooches with an ornithologist at the University, and came to the conclusion that the birds’ poses and the styling of their feet could very well represent birds of prey.
While the ornaments have traditionally been identified as ravens, in her written work Jennbert cautions against reflexively interpreting the brooches this way:
However, it is questionable whether Old Norse mythology gives answers to pre-Christian iconographic representations, and this is an ongoing discussion in the field of archaeology and history of religion.1
Still, mythology does provide another tantalizing suggestion: both Freya and Frigga had falcon cloaks, enabling them to fly. So there are really many possible connections between women and falcons here: the falcon bones in the women’s graves, the numerous finds of brooches with bird motifs, also found in women’s graves, and the falcon cloaks of mythology.
I couldn’t help wondering if a modern Heathen woman could find falcon or raven brooches to wear (for me it’s usually a very short leap from a theoretical question to a shopping opportunity), and the answer is definitely yes. I was told that the museum shop at Lund had 
reproductions, but there are reproductions to be found Stateside as well: The Viking Trader has two nice pins based on finds from Bejsebakken Denmark: a very nice brooch showing a bird of prey (item 330, pictured above right), and a “raven” very like the Uppåkra brooch (item 314, shown at the left, which comes as both a brooch and a pendant).
1. 2007.The mania of the time. Falconry and bird brooches at Uppåkra and beyond. On the Road. Studies in honour of Lars Larsson (Eds. Birgitta Hårdh, Kristina Jennbert and Deborah Olausson). Acta Archaeologica 4:26. s. 24-28. Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell International.
David Carron on 19 May 2008 at 6:24 pm #
Very cool little article.
Christina Nygaard Johansen on 23 May 2008 at 2:59 pm #
I think it’s a very interesting point that you’ve brought to our attention. I will definitely listen to the interview (I’m danish, so I hope that I’m able to understand a great deal). Do you know if Jennbert has written a book/article? I would very much like to read more about the topic!
admin on 26 May 2008 at 3:35 pm #
> Do you know if Jennbert has written a book/article? I would very much like to read more about the topic!
Yes, she writes about this subject in the article cited at the bottom of the post. It’s an article from a book:
“The mania of the time. Falconry and bird brooches at Uppåkra and beyond.” On the Road. Studies in honour of Lars Larsson (Eds. Birgitta Hårdh, Kristina Jennbert and Deborah Olausson). Acta Archaeologica 4:26. s. 24-28. Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell International. 2007
Lavrans on 17 Sep 2008 at 10:18 pm #
Hej!
If you’e still in Stockholm when you get this, check out a shop called Handfaste on Vesterlongatan in Gamla Stan. They used to have some great jewelry. (If they’re still their!)
Lavrans