Intriguing Hoard Of Bronze Age Bracelets From Brittany, France Remains An Archaeological Puzzle

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - Three metal deposits were extracted by a detectorist inside the site, dated to the Middle Bronze Age 2 (1450- 1300 BC) at Kerouarn, Prat, in northern Brittany.

Credits: GPLA Arc’Antique / M. Nordez

The ornament hoards dated to to the Middle Bronze Age are composed exclusively of copper-based alloy ornaments. At the site, the archaeologists found a 26m-wide semi-circular area with two curved ditches, separated from each other by a huge entrance.

Pottery analysis and a radiocarbon dating indicates that the ditches and hoards were contemporary.

To date, the site of Kerouarn has yielded the largest number of bracelets (at least 89) and the largest mass of ornaments (15kg) of the Atlantic Middle Bronze Age.

The 89 bracelets constituting the three hoards all have a massive plano-convex or concave-convex section and are decorated with a finely crafted geometric motif.

The most massive bracelet, with hinged locking system (photographs by M. Nordez; tomography by G. Bourbouze).

Most of the bracelets (81) have a closed shape with bulges hiding the ends which are very rare characteristics. Particularly one bracelet (600g) represents the most complex example.

One of the bracelets is penannular (in the form of an incomplete circle (or ring). "Seven others have a mortise-and-tenon locking system, sometimes hinged)."

"There are no contemporary built structures in this 225m² semi-circular area and this absence cannot be explained by erosion.

Image credit: GPLA Arc’Antique.

This lack of domestic or funerary remains, in combination with the monumentality of this complex, suggests other functions. This partially enclosed (and possibly hidden) place may have been used to bring people together, possibly for ritual, religious and/or socioeconomic purposes.

The hoards may either be the cause of these gatherings or a visible consequence, possibly among others that left no trace," writes researchers in their paper.

Main types of bracelets (photographs by M. Nordez): A) Prat type, with variation in the number of terminal bulges; B) unique open bracelet from the hoards; C) cast residues trapped in the internal side of a locking system. Image credits: (photographs by M. Nordez; tomography by G. Bourbouze).

Further analysis indicates that all the bracelets were made using the lost wax casting technique, like most bracelets of this period.

Interesting are the two characteristics of the bracelets:  quantity and remarkable quality.

The bracelets were discovered in a vessel and the diverse stages of manufacture and wear. Many of the artifacts seemed to be unfinished because the craftsmen never completed their manufacturing.

Image credit: GPLA Arc’Antique ; C : M. Nordez

The question remains what the function of these objects was.

Were they intended to serve as ornaments, or did they represent some form of pre-monetary currency?  What did stop the manufacturing of the bracelets?

Several sites with multiple hoards are known in Brittany and all date from the Late Bronze to the Early Iron Age.

However, the Kerouarn discovery of the bracelets is particularly interesting.

This site has already yielded artifacts from the Middle Neolithic to the present day, including an important enclosed settlement from the Late Iron Age.

The largest number of bracelets (at least 89) and the largest mass of ornaments (15kg) of the Atlantic Middle Bronze Age was found at this site. During the Atlantic Bronze Age, there were a number of distinct regional centers of metal production, and many of the major ones were in north-western France.

The Kerouarn excavation data is still analyzed, and it will be presented in detailed publication regarding the archaeological context, hoarding practices, the ornaments, and the lost-wax casting technique. The latter is one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques but is still widely used for producing jewelry and art.

Based on original source

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com