In this publication, we will explore new methods which may unveil some of the Snartemo V band’s secrets. When archaeology and history are combined with artisanal skill, new insight is gained. Practical and theoretical approaches will bring us closer to an answer.
The publication "Snartemo V - Tablet Woven Heritage from the Migration Period" will be launched during the Bjørnevåk event at Tingvatn on May 25 (read more). It is possible to pre-order the book in the online store already now, it will be shipped after launch.
This publication also has a Norwegian edition.
The most beautiful grave find from the Migration Period
The Snartemo V-band is more than just a textile; it is a witness to history from the Migration Period. It stands as a material expression of culture, history, and artisanship that has travelled through time.
The history of the Snartemo V-band remains partly concealed from us, yet we strive to uncover some of its mystery while allowing it to retain its own story. With the expertise of skilled weavers Randi Stoltz and Rasmus Twisttmann Jørgensen, we have gained insight into how the band was crafted.
We also draw upon the sister band from Øvre Berge, a nearly identical band from slightly further south in the same valley. What do weavers see when they study these bands 1,500 years after they were made? Here, in this book we follow the artisan’s encounter with their predecessors – the weavers of the past.
By employing modern technological methods, researcher PhD Krista Wright has led fibre and colour analyses that provide a deeper understanding of the properties of the Snartemo V-band. We highly recommend the article "A Chieftain's Colourful Garments," published in Archaeological Textiles Review in 2022 and in Crafting Power (2025). Elisabeth Vetland has then dyed yarn in her pots, inspired both by these analyses and by the pursuit of hues that capture nature’s beauty. Perhaps this was also something the original dyer sought to achieve?
Finally, Samuel Høiland has explored the symbolism and compiled the texts.
Publisher: Vest-Agder-museet, Norway
ISBN: 978-82-91178-32-5
Pages: 69