In response to the scholar debate regarding the way in which Great Moravian spherical buttons were used, this study presents an overview of specimens whose use may be inferred on the basis of the archaeological context. The topic is demonstrated using two case studies, where the function of the spherical buttons may be definitively proved thanks to preserved textile fibres. Textile and metal material characterization was performed by EDS analysis on SEM. The case studies are accompanied by analogous finds known from the literature. In conclusion, we propose possible interpretations of the functional range of spherical hollow buttons.
Lokalita Kopčany byla v období 9. až 10. stol. pravděpodobně hlavním sídelním areálem ve slovenské části nivy řeky Moravy v širším zázemí hradiště Valy u Mikulčic. V blízkosti tamního kostela byli někdy ve 2. pol. 9. a v 1. pol. 10. stol. pohřbíváni příslušníci místní společenské elity. Část výbavy z těchto hrobů byla podrobena průzkumu zaměřenému na techniku a kvalitu řemeslného zpracování a na jakost užitých materiálů. Cílem bylo získat informace, které by napomáhaly ověřit vztah kopčanské nobility k centru mikulčické aglomerace. Bylo zjištěno, že sledované předměty (3 nože, sekera, 4 ostruhy a 4 šperky) mají kvalitu porovnatelnou s obdobnými nálezy z Mikulčic. Koresponduje to s předpokladem, že pocházejí ze stejných zdrojů, kterých využívala elita sídlící na moravské straně mikulčicko-kopčanské aglomerace. and In the 9th and 10th centuries located in Kopčany in the Slovak part of the Morava River basin was in all likelihood the main residential area in the hinterlands of the agglomeration near Mikulčice. Members of the local social elite were buried near the local church sometime in the second half of the 9th and first half of the 10th centuries. Several objects recovered from these graves were subjected to special research focused exclusively on the methods and quality of craftsmanship and the quality of materials. The goal was to obtain information that would help verify the relationship between the Kopčany nobility and the Mikulčice agglomeration. It was determined that the studied objects (3 knives, an axe, 4 spurs and 4 pieces of jewellery) are of a quality comparable to similar finds from Mikulčice which confirms the hypothesis that they come from the same sources used by the elite living on the Moravian side of the Mikulčice-Kopčany agglomeration.