A medieval lead amulet from the Dřevíč hillfort in Central Bohemia

Abstract

A lead amulet with an engraved Latin inscription was discovered in 2014 during regular investigations of the ploughed land and eroded wooded hillsides of the multicultural hillfort at the Na Dřevíči site (Rakovník district). Without parallels thus far in the Bohemian environment, the artefact was identified on the basis of comparisons with finds of lead tablets with Latin texts from German and Scandinavian sites of the 11th–13th century, which were usually unfolded after their discovery for the purpose of reading. This article presents the circumstances and context of the find, the results of microscopic observations, the description
of the amulet and the results of material analyses, including the creation of model visualisations of the structure of the lead tablet, a translation and commentary of the Latin text and its placement into the broader context of parallel finds from Europe. The conducted analyses also raise the issue of the non-destructive investigation of singular finds. The usual methods for unfolding the lead sheet are invasive and do not permit the preservation of the authenticity of the artefact in its original folded form.