Technical study of Early Medieval gombiky (spherical hollow buttons) from Mikulčice, Great Moravia and Lumbe's Garden cemetery, Prague Castle

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985912%3A_____%2F19%3A00522719" target="_blank" >RIV/67985912:_____/19:00522719 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081758:_____/19:00522719

Result on the web

<a href="https://anthropo.umontreal.ca/public/FAS/anthropologie/Documents/5-Departement/GMPCA_2019/Programme_final_GMPCA_full.pdf" target="_blank" >https://anthropo.umontreal.ca/public/FAS/anthropologie/Documents/5-Departement/GMPCA_2019/Programme_final_GMPCA_full.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Technical study of Early Medieval gombiky (spherical hollow buttons) from Mikulčice, Great Moravia and Lumbe's Garden cemetery, Prague Castle

Original language description

Mikulčice and Prague Castle are two major political, ecclesiastical and economical centres in the Early Medieval Period located on the territory of present day Czech Republic. Mikulčice was probably the seat of the Moravian ruler and the capital of Great Moravia, the first Slavic pre-state while Prague Castle became the main seat of the Bohemian rulers at the turn of the tenth century after the fall of the Moravian Empire. A high concentration of prestigious grave goods belonging to the Moravian and Bohemian ruling elite was discovered in both localities. Among them, are gombiky (spherical hollow buttons), used as prestigious clothing fasteners or pendants, as well as luxurious amulet usually found in pairs. This type of jewels appears in Moravia in the ninth century and became a symbol of the ruling elite in Bohemia too. At the fall of the Moravian Empire, we find new types of gombiky in Bohemia which could suggest a local production. In order to trace production of specific workshops, a technological study was performed to characterize metal composition, construction, and manufacturing processes of these type of jewels. Thirty specimens from Mikulčice and twenty specimens from Prague Castle were investigated by observation under optical stereomicroscope (Olympus SZ60), X-ray radiography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), supplemented by electron microanalysis (EDS). Replicas of each main type of gombiky were manufactured by a professional goldsmith. Results have evidenced the use of almost pure gold, silver alloys, gilded copper, different type of soldering techniques, gilding by fire-gilding, specific tool marks and high skills in chasing, filigree and granulation work. They also evidenced similarities and differences in technology which points to different influences and transfer of knowledge. The importance of past restoration treatment on the objects and their impact on surface analysis will be also stressed upon.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

60102 - Archaeology

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů