Lords and ladies of the rings

Saddle-shaped finger-rings from the Carpathian Basin

Abstract

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.