‘Carantanian / Köttlach’ jewellery from southwest Slovakia and from the other parts of the Carpathian Basin. In the Slovak and Hungarian archaeological literature, a small group of early medieval jewellery from southwest Slovakia was labelled as being of ‘Carantanian / Köttlach’ provenance, meaning that it originated from Eastern Alps region (today’s Austria and Slovenia). The goal of the article is a revision of the issue of provenance in the context of analogous finds from Moravia and the Carpathian Basin (i.e. today’s Hungary, western Romania and northeastern Croatia). The provenenace from the Eastern Alps region can be confirmed in the case of several Slovak finds only, the others are of local origin. Also, from the point of view of chronology, we are dealing with a relatively heterogenous group of jewellery, with a date-range from the turn of the 8th-9th centuries to the 11th century. The author tries to demonstrate that the argument in the middle of the 20th century and later about the ‘influences from the Eastern Alps region’ was dependent on the state of archaeological research at that time. It was a viewpoint that over-emphasised the importance of early medieval ‘Köttlach culture’ in Eastern Alps region, especially for the spreading of some jewellery types to other regions of middle and southeastern Europe., Šimon Ungerman., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
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.
Saddle-shaped finger-rings are among the most widespread types of Late Iron Age jewellery. Such ornaments are encountered throughout the entire period in question, from south-western Germany, western Switzerland and northern Italy to Transylvania and Banat in Romania, sporadically also reaching the Lower Danube region. This article analyses the evolution of this type of finger-rings and their use within the Late Iron Age communities of the Carpathian Basin. The analysis offers important information regarding the nature of social and cultural connections established within each community and also between different communities from this geographic area during the Late Iron Age. and Sedlovité prsteny patří mezi nejrozšířenější typy šperků pozdní doby železné. Tyto ozdoby se vyskytují v průběhu celého zmíněného období od jihozápadního Německa, západního Švýcarska a severní Itálie po Transylvánii a Banát v Rumunsku, ojediněle zasahují také do dolního Podunají. Článek analyzuje vývoj tohoto typu prstenů a jejich užívání komunitami pozdní doby železné v Karpatské kotlině. Tato analýza nabízí důležité informace o společenských a kulturních vztazích jak v rámci jednotlivých komunit, tak mezi různými komunitami této oblasti v pozdní době železné.
This article deals with 29 Early Medieval finger-rings found, mostly in cemeteries, in Moravia (Czech Republic). They are made of gold, silver, gilded silver or gilded bronze. Each finger-ring consists of two parts – hoop and bezel – made of sheet metal and soldered together, and decorated with granulation, filigree, inlays of glass or semi-precious stones; only two finger-rings are cast as one piece. The finger-rings are classified into 8 types (A to H), some with subtypes. The author outlines the current state of chronology of Early Medieval jewellery in Moravia and discusses the dating of finger-rings: most of the precisely-datable pieces fall into the older period of the Great Moravian Empire, i.e. the first half of the 9th century. The main concern of the study is the question of the origin of Moravian finger-rings. The author sketches the current state of research of Early Medieval finger-rings in Central and South-eastern Europe (ca. 6th–12th century) and searches for parallels in the Moravian types. In Moravian material, he tries to identify structural and decorative elements that could distinguish imported pieces, their imitations and local products. However, in large measure the sorting of Moravian finger-rings into these three groups remains hypothetical. On the whole, it is evident that the finger-rings found in Moravian cemeteries are based on Mediterranean models. Probably the first specimens (or their immediate producers) came to Moravia in the 8th century, from Byzantine cities on the Adriatic coast, and local production of similar finger-rings in Moravian workshops followed soon afterwards.
Článek předkládá RFA analýzy ryzosti zlatých šperků z pěti významných raně středověkých lokalit z Čech (9.–10. stol.), považovaných za importy z Moravy, a srovnávací soubor náušnic, gombíků/knoflíků a ozdob s gemmami z Mikulčic, tedy centrální lokality na Moravě. Analýzy potvrdily velkou ryzost zlata užívaného na Moravě, podpořily interpretaci kování – relikviáře – s perlami z Mikulčic jako importu; v případě nálezů z Čech jejich složení podporuje moravský původ, u medailonu ze Želének je po analýze zřejmé, že řetěz vznikl nezávisle na medailonu a byl na něj použit kov menší ryzosti. Identické složení čtyř šperků ze dvou lokalit (Želénky – náušnice, Stará Kouřim – perly) může ukazovat na společný původ v jedné moravské dílně. and This article presents X–ray fluorescence analyses of the purity of gold jewellery from five important Early Medieval sites in Bohemia (9th–10th century) regarded as imports from Moravia, and of a comparative assemblage of earrings, spherical gombík buttons and gem–studded jewellery from Mikulčice, i.e. from a central site in Moravia. The analyses confirmed the high purity of the gold used in Moravia, and supported the interpretation of metalwork (a reliquary) with pearls from Mikulčice as an import. The composition of the finds from Bohemia supports a Moravian origin for them; in the case of a medallion from Želénky it is clear after analysis that chain originated separately, and that less pure metal was used in its making. The identical composition of of four jewels found at two sites (Želénky – earrings, Stará Kouřim – beads) may indicate their common origin in a single Moravian workshop.
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.
For many years, the attention of specialists has been aimed at
Těšín folk costumes decorated with silver jewellery. They are the result of a gradual diffusion of city jewellers’ products among wealthier countrymen; amateur craftsmen (so called fušeři - dabblers) used to make jewellery for less wealthy people. Jablunkov and Těšín were main centres of this production.
Jewellery was primarily made of silver, but copper, tin, lead and later new materials (German silver) were used as well. The most common methods of making silver jewellery were casting (the oldest technology), extrusion and filigree. There are following types of jewellery: hooks, belts, buttons, chains, necklaces and different brooches. Grotesque, arabesque, auriculated and also zoomorphic (lion, bird, lamb) and anthropomorphic (king David, angel) ornaments prevail on the oldest jewellery. Silver belts became the height of art and craftsmanship of Těšín jewellers’ work. The most extensive and comprehensive collection of Těšín silver folk
costume jewellery is owned by the Museum of Těšínsko in Český
Těšín.