The Gilton Kent Thunor`s Hammer

One hears often that the wearing of Thor`s Hammer amulets originated in the viking era as a response to the inroads made by xtianity. Whilst there may be an element of truth in this argument it is plain wrong to suggest that this is when the wearing of the hammer began. We have evidence of Thor`s Hammer amulets dating back prior to the viking age. An example of one is the 6th century CE hammer from Gilton, Kent. This hammer was manufactured within 100 years of the Anglo-Saxon invasions when what was to become England was still a non-xtian country. Therefore whilst there may be a valid argument in the popularity of the hammer as a sign of resistance against the creeping xtianisation of the Germanic peoples it existed before the conversion period. Indeed we have evidence of Bronze Age northern Europeans being buried with axe amulets. The axe as my readers will be aware was the forerunner of the hammer and has its origins in the Neolithic Age. Indeed the Old Norse hamarr from the Proto-Germanic hamaraz means `stone`. Clearly the axe/hammer has a very ancient Germanic and Indo-European origin. Thus the wearing of a hammer or axe amulet should be taken as not just a reaction and protest against xtianity but as a positive affirmation of our Germanic troth. The wearing of this amulet marks us out to men and Gods as being faithful to the Aesir.It symbolises the protection that Thunor/Thor/Donar gives to us and is a source of divine comfort and inspiration. Recently laser scanning of Stonehenge has revealed the presence of 71 newly discovered additional Bronze Age axe carvings bringing the number to 115. Significantly every one of the axes is depicted with the blade shown upwards demonstrating that this was in recognition of the Indo-European Thunder God. This is evidence of a new culture arriving in Britain and indeed not just a culture but a new people, the Indo-European speakers of the R1b DNA haplotype, which now makes up the largest haplotype of native English and British people. In addition to earlier axe amulets we also know that from the 2nd century CE members of the Alemanni tribe wore Donarkeule [Donar`s Clubs]which is believe to be associated with the worship of Hercules by western Germanic tribes.