The Perm’/Glazov Rings: Contacts and Economy in the Viking Age between Russia and the Baltic Region

Description

A group of distinctive Viking Age silver rings, sometimes described as neck-rings, sometimes as arm-spirals, have long been a cause of academic dispute. Where were they made and how were they used? So far the scholarly perspectives have been limited to either the western or the eastern material, which has hampered interpretations. This book deals with a greater number of these rings than hitherto, mainly dated to the 9th century, retrieved in present-day Russia, the Baltic region and Scandinavia. By analysing them it is possible to elucidate and discuss questions of contacts, economy and also crafth traditions in the early Viking Age. It is especially worth noticing that these rings also seem to have been made according to distinct weight groups, which can also be associated with ancient weight systems. Obviously they are to be seen as value denominations or means of payment in large units. The similarity between rings in east and west indicates close relations between Scandinavia/the Baltic Region and the interior of Russia. This can probably be explained by the well-developed fur trade, aimed ultimately at the markets in the Abbasid caliphate and Byzantium. Only by considering the collected material in the east as well as in the west has it been possible to discuss interpretations of them. 9 Strange birds in Scandinavian Viking Age? 13 The Baltic/Scandinavian record 19 The Russian record 33 Comparison of rings from east and west 34 Long-distance trading networks 35 The Kama and Čepca regions 39 Graffiti on rings and coins 45 "Permian" rings and Duesminde rings 49 Weight systems in east and west 53 The weight of complete rings 57 Silver analyses 58 Weight-adjusted ingots in east and west 61 Gotlandic bangles and "money" spirals 63 Relation between Perm’/Glazov rings, Duesminde rings, weight-standardized ingots and spiral rings 63 Concluding discussion 67 Abbreviations 67 References