This is a translation of part of the information found in  "Die Lederfunde von Haithabu"  by Willy Groenman-van Waateringe, 1984  (ISBN 3-529 19216). Special thanks to Cornelia Muncke (aka Caithlinn) for doing the translation for me!

This translation was done for educational purposes. It was done so that further study of Viking age archery could be done by reenactors.

The Hedeby quivers

4.4 Quiver (Fig. 22, Plate 25-27)

The following 7 leather fragments belong to at least 2 different objects:

1. Irregular, longish piece of leather 46x27cm in one place stitch holes, no indentations from threads, punched decoration; along a seam, directly on a frayed narrow side, an almost triangular extension, base 11cm, height 4cm, with stitch holes along the edge, and with an oval opening (3x1.5cm), through which a double folded leather strap (1.5cm wide) has been drawn, which itself is secured by a lengthways folded narrow strip of leather; fragment of a second triangular piece with an opening, originally sewn onto this. (Plate 25, 1-2)
2. Three onto and on top of each other fitting fragments that when connected form an object that’s round on one narrow side and almost ragged on the other, 45x20.5cm; on all sides stitch holes, with indentations from threads only along the upper rim on the grain side, punched decoration; about 13cm below the upper rim, at about one third of the height, left and right two almost triangular extensions (11x4.5cm; 10x6cm), along one edge stitch holes, one oval opening (about 2x1.5cm; Plate 26.1a, c-d).
3. Triangular piece of leather, 10.5x4cm, stitch holes on both sides, but not at the base; almost square opening, 1.5x1.5x1.5cm (Plate 26.1 b)
4. Truncated conical piece of calf/cow leather, diameter of the upper opening almost 9cm, height 16.5cm; the upper rim is folded over towards the flesh side, with stitch holes, thread indentations on the grain side; inside the folded over rim is a re-enforcement of a thick piece of leather; radial seams Type 1b, thread indentations on the grain side; in the lower rim arched openings with stitch holes, punched decoration in form of a cross (Plate 27.1 a-c)
5. Cross-shaped piece of leather length of the arms 9.5cm and 8.5 cm, in form identical to the decoration of fragment 4 (Plate 25.4)
6. Two longish pieces of leather at one side tapering to a point, 39x2-9.5 cm and (34.5)x 5.5-9cm; the other narrow side is rounded, on all sides stitch holes, no thread indentations; punched herringbone decoration.

7. 6 fragments of binding strips, according to the shape, the round strip (Plate 26.2) belongs certainly to an object described under 6., the others might possibly belong to objects described under 1.-2.

The fragments 1-5 are interpreted here as parts of at least two quivers (Fig. 22.1). Basis for such an interpretation are illustrations of quivers from the Bayeux tapestry (Stenton 1956, Plate 61-62; 70; X) where it can be clearly seen that the quivers of the archers have a re-enforced upper edge, that the sides are parallel, the lower end is rounded and the quivers themselves are mostly attached to a belt. (Fig 22.2)

Since fragments 1 and 2 are of different lengths, they belong to two different examples. The total length of the quiver, if fragment 4 was a top part of fragment 1 or 2, was at least 62cm. This correlates well with the length of the quivers on the Bayeux tapestry, where they range from the hip to just below the knee on an adult man. It is not possible to clearly reconstruct the type of connection with fragment 1 or 2 judging by the traces of the seams on the lower edge of fragment 4 Those traces also don’t fit the seam on the upper edge of fragment 2 (not preserved in fragment 1). On the other hand is it also possible that the upper edges of fragment 1 and 2 were connected to the folded over rim (inside) of fragment 4. In this case the length of the quiver would be reduced by 10cm. A third possibility would be that fragment 4 belongs to neither fragment 1 nor 2, but to a third, unknown quiver.

The two fragments listed under 6. seem to belong to the objects 1.-5. They show a bound edge , the lower narrow side is rounded, the upper tapers to a point. Their overall length is around 40cm. Their specific function on the quiver can not be determined any more, it is conceivable that they might have been re-enforcements for fragments 1 or 2, however, in this case their punched decoration would be hidden. Also, while the half-round binding (7.) fits around fragment 6, it doesn’t fit around fragment 2.

   

Plate 25	Plate 26	Plate 27