EUROPA National archaeological discoveries – Lõhavere knife sheath-shaped pendant

Lõhavere hillfort is an ancient Estonian stronghold located in Lõhavere village, Põhja-Sakala Parish, Viljandi County. Believed to be the fortress of the Estonian chieftain Lembitu, Lõhavere is one of the most extensively studied hill forts in Estonia. While knives are a common archaeological find, pendants inspired by knives were, made in Estonia only during the Late Iron Age. These pendants were crafted from bone, antler, or bronze, they always depict a sheathed knife, and around twenty have been found across Estonia. They were crafted from bone, antler, or bronze. The one discovered in Lõhavere is one of the finest and most beautiful among them.