Viking Age Fire-Steels and Strike-A-Lights

extrait de page du site " The Viking Answer Lady Website "

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/fire.htm

Since matches did not become available until the mid-1800's, prior to that time people had to make fires in other ways. The two most common methods of fire-making before the advent of matches were friction and percussion.

Some Examples of C-Shaped Fire-Steels from the Viking Age

Fire Steel from Berge - Borgund parish - Norway
Fire Steel from Berge, Borgund parish, Norway

Fire-Steels from Århus, Søndervold, Jylland, Denmark

Viking Age Fire Steel from Keava Hill-Fort, Estonia

Viking Age Fire Steel From Raisio, Ihala, Mulli Abode, Finland

Fire-Steel from Kangsala, Juvenius, Finland

Birka Grave 139 - Fire-Steel

Birka Grave 925 - Fire-Steel

Birka Grave 727 - Fire-Steel

Birka Grave 872 - Fire-Steel

Birka Grave 750 - Firesteel and X-Ray Showing Actual Structure Under Corrosion

Some Examples of Eastern-Type Fire-Steels from the Viking Age

Fire-Steel with Figures of Mounted Riders from Sweden

Bronze and Iron Fire-Steel from Eura, Luistari, Finland

Bronze and Iron Fire-Steel from Flemma, Tingvoll, Nordmark, Norway. Only the handle has survived.

Birka Grave 644 - 10th century Fire-Steel

Reproduction of 10th c. Fire-Steel from Birka, length 5.4 cm.

Birka Grave 644 - 10th century Fire-Steel (left), with Reproduction (right)

Striking Stones Used in the Viking Age

Old Norse has a term for striking-stones used in fire-making. Such a stone was called eld-tinna, "fire-flint, flint with which to strike fire."

Viking Age Striking-Stones

Viking Age West Scandinavian Fire-Steel Plus Striking Stone Showing Groove

Eastern-Type Mounted Horsemen Fire-Steel from Tuna in Alsike, Uppland

Eastern-Type "Mounted Horsemen" Fire-Steel and Striking-Stone with Groove from Tuna in Alsike, Uppland

Viking Age Bronze Fire Steel Amulet from Sweden