The Spur Goad from Herslev : tracing the Legacy of a Western Slavic Rider in Viking Age Denmark

Abstract

In April 2023, during a metal detector survey at Herslev on Sjælland, a Danish archaeology enthusiast uncovered a remarkable Western Slavic spur goad. This small copper alloy artefact features a three-dimensional horse figure and was originally part of an elaborate spur, representing a group of high-status items known as ‘spurs of the Lutomiersk type’ or ‘zoomorphic spurs’. Similar specimens found across Europe suggest that these spurs were produced in Poland, showcasing a sophisticated ‘animal style’ that developed in the Piast state during the tenth and eleventh centuries. This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the Herslev goad, placing it in the broader context of analogous items from Poland and other regions of Viking Age Europe. It examines the artefact’s socio-geographical context at Herslev and explores the circumstances of its deposition. The analysis carefully suggests that the goad may have belonged to a prominent equestrian warrior of Western Slavic origin, possibly tasked with an important mission in Denmark