Returning to the subject of rangles (read more), the Oseberg...

Returning to the subject of rangles (read more), the Oseberg ship burial gives us a clue as to how they were used. It contained 5 ornately carved wooden beast heads, each of which held rope in its mouth and was associated with a unique rangle rattle, some with ornate gold work on them. Each of the rattles was attached by a rope to its metal hook. In addition the rattle-rope passed through the mouth of the associated animal head post. As far back as 1905 Shetelig and Gustafson proposed that the beasts and rangles were used during the funeral rite as a kind of fence for the sacred area (known as a Gard) which was inside the ship that was later buried beneath a barrow. It seems the rangles and beasts protected the ritual area from evil supernatural forces.