Migration Period
between Odra and Vistula

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Bow brooch

Bow brooch (Bügelfibel), a distinctive elewment of women’s wear during the Migration Period, recorded in different areas of Barbaricum, especially among the →Germanic Tribes and West →Balts  (→Olsztyn Group ), known also from the territory inhabited by early Slav tribes in south-eastern Europe. Cast, with the fastening device – pin and spring (single or multiple-coil - fig. 1-3.) – attached to the underside. Comes in a great diversity of forms, with a variously shaped head (rectangular, half-round, with or without projections) and foot. Richly ornamented, usually in the →Kerbschnitt Style  chip carving), may also be stamped, engraved, with zoomorphic motifs, more rarely, anthropomorphic motifs. In the →Olsztyn Group  many B. B.  imitate the designs known from western and southern Europe, Scandinavia, variously simplified and stylized.

AB-W

Literature: Fibel und Fibeltracht. K. Späte Völkerwanderungszeit und Merowingerzeit auf dem Kontinent, [in:] H. Beck et al. (Eds.) Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde, t. 8, Berlin – New York 1994, p. 541-582 (M. Martin); L. Vagalinski, Zur Frage der ethnischen Herkunft der späten Strahlenfibeln (Finger- oder Bügelfibeln) aus dem Donau-Karpaten-Becken (M. 6.–7. Jh.), „Zeitschr. Arch.“ 28, 1994, p. 261-305; A. Koch, Bügelfibeln der Merowingerzeit im westlichen Frankenreich, RGZM 41, Mainz 1998; V. Hilberg, Masurische Bügelfibeln. Studien zu den Fernbeziehungen der völkerwanderungszeitlichen Brandgräberfelder von Daumen und Kellaren. Daumen und Kellaren – Tumiany i Kielary 2, Schriften des Archäologischen Landesmuseums 9., Neumünster 2009.

  • Fig. 1. Bow brooch from Tumiany (former Daumen), Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, grave 57 – import from Scandinavia (gilded silver, niello) (v. Carnap-Bornheim, Ibsen, Valuev [Eds.], Die Prussia-Sammlung. Der Bestand im Museum für Geschichte und Kunst Kal full resolution

    Fig. 1. Bow brooch from Tumiany (former Daumen), Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, grave 57 – import from Scandinavia (gilded silver, niello) (v. Carnap-Bornheim, Ibsen, Valuev [Eds.], Die Prussia-Sammlung. Der Bestand im Museum für Geschichte und Kunst Kal

  • Fig. 2. Bronze bow brooch from Tumiany (former Daumen), Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, grave 46 (1/70). Photo St. Fitak (Prusowie. Dzieje i kultura ludu bałtyjskiego [folder to the exhibition: Prussians. History and Culture of a Balt People]], Malbork 19 full resolution

    Fig. 2. Bronze bow brooch from Tumiany (former Daumen), Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, grave 46 (1/70). Photo St. Fitak (Prusowie. Dzieje i kultura ludu bałtyjskiego [folder to the exhibition: Prussians. History and Culture of a Balt People]], Malbork 19

  • Fig. 3. Gilded silver bow brooch with a runic inscription. Griesheim, Kr. Darmstadt-Dieburg, grave 43 (Göldner, Hilberg, Griesheim, Kreis Darmstadt-Dieburg. Gräberfeld des 6. bis 8. Jahrhunderts, „Archäologische Denkmäler in Hessen“ 1, Marburg 1977 [neubea full resolution

    Fig. 3. Gilded silver bow brooch with a runic inscription. Griesheim, Kr. Darmstadt-Dieburg, grave 43 (Göldner, Hilberg, Griesheim, Kreis Darmstadt-Dieburg. Gräberfeld des 6. bis 8. Jahrhunderts, „Archäologische Denkmäler in Hessen“ 1, Marburg 1977 [neubea