Gwizdek (?) z poroża z Wyspy Sobieszewskiej w Gdańsku

• Authors: Kurzyk Krzysztof , Litwinienko Aleksandra

Title variants

EN

A whistle (?) Made of antler from Wyspa Sobieszewska Island in Gdańsk

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

In May 2020, Ms Sylwia Ziółkowska donated to the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk an artefact made of antler, which she accidentally discovered while walking on the beach of Wyspa Sobieszewska in Gdańsk (Fig. 1). The artefact probably originally served as a whistle. Dimensions: maximum length 24 cm, maximum diameter at the mouthpiece 2.8 cm, diameter of the inner hole 1.2 cm (Figs. 2-3). After calibration, the radiocarbon dating with a probability of 95.4% is at the maximum in the period 172 BC to 8 AD (Fig. 4), i.e. in the younger Pre-Roman period in Poland. The simple form of the artefact is intercultural, and we know similar finds also from other periods and archaeological cultures, e.g. from Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain and Portugal (Fig. 5). Some researchers criticized the hypotheses about the acoustic purpose of the discussed subjects. Among alternative interpretations, there were often proposals to consider them as basketry tools or, in the case of smaller specimens, as pendants and amulets. Among the alternative interpretations in the literature, there are ones ascribing to the discussed items the role of elements of the horse harness (side pieces). The artefact discovered on Wyspa Sobieszewska in Gdańsk has morphological features typical of stopped edge-blown aerophones. However, the plug closing the blow hole has not survived. Undoubtedly, the collection of these extremely interesting artefacts requires a broader view and further analysis, especially attempts to reconstruct the sound.

Keywords

PL

archeomuzykologia; instrumenty muzyczne; gwizdek z poroża; okres przed­rzymski; południowe wybrzeże Bałtyku; Delta Wisły

EN

archaeomusicology; musical instruments; antler whistle; pre-Roman period; southern Baltic Sea coast; Vistula River Delta

• Publisher: Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
• Journal: Pomorania Antiqua
• Year: 2022
• Volume: Tom XXXI
• Pages: 189–199

Contributors

author

Kurzyk Krzysztof

• Dział Badań Podwodnych, Narodowe Muzeum Morskie w Gdańsku, ul. Ołowianka 7-13, 80-751Gdańsk

author

Litwinienko Aleksandra

• PAN Biblioteka Gdańska, ul. Wałowa 15, 80-858 Gdańsk