Two “Viking” bracelets from Nový Knín in Central Bohemia

Their origin, chemical composition and production technology

Authors

  • Rastislav Korený Hornické muzeum Příbram, Březové Hory 293, CZ-261 01 Příbram VI
  • Michal Vopálenský Ústav teoretické a aplikované mechaniky AV ČR, Centrum Telč, Laboratoř RTG tomografie, Batelovská 586–486, CZ-588 56 Telč
  • Ivana Kumpová Ústav teoretické a aplikované mechaniky AV ČR, Centrum Telč, Laboratoř RTG tomografie, Batelovská 586–486, CZ-588 56 Telč https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8556-4996
  • Šárka Msallamová Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, Fakulta chemické technologie, Ústav kovových materiálů a korozního inženýrství, Technická 5, CZ-166 28 Praha 6
  • Klára Drábková Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, Fakulta chemické technologie, Ústav chemické technologie restaurování památek, Technická 5, CZ-166 28 Praha 6
  • Marek Fikrle Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, Hlavní 130, CZ-250 68 Husinec – Řež
  • Petr Valenta Národní muzeum, Náprstkovo muzeum asijských, afrických a amerických kultur, Betlémské náměstí 1, CZ-110 00 Praha 1
  • Jaroslav Frána Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, Hlavní 130, CZ-250 68 Husinec – Řež

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35686/AR.2021.19

Keywords:

Early Middle Ages, Scandinavia, Modern period, Africa, bracelets, analyses

Abstract

The subject of the investigation is a pair of bracelets from Nový Knín in the Příbram district, the first of which appeared in 1965, the second in 2014. In the past, the first bracelet was characterised as silver, with analogies in Scandinavian ring ornaments of the 10th–11th century AD. But when this bracelet was subjected to an elemental analysis XRF in 2008, it was found to be composed of an alloy of brass with an admixture of silver. Following the surprising discovery of the second bracelet, a series of scientific and archaeological-culturally anthropological analyses were conducted, the results of which led to a chronological and material re-evaluation of previously published data, including their ‘find’ contexts. The analyses indicate that the two ornaments are virtually identical and also reveal that they cannot be regarded as early medieval artefacts but rather as Modern to recent products that were likely made outside of Europe (Africa?), probably of a tourist souvenir.

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Published

03-01-2022

How to Cite

Korený, R., Vopálenský, M., Kumpová, I., Msallamová, Šárka, Drábková, K., Fikrle, M., Valenta, P., & Frána, J. (2022). Two “Viking” bracelets from Nový Knín in Central Bohemia: Their origin, chemical composition and production technology. Archeologické Rozhledy, 73(4), 624–642. https://doi.org/10.35686/AR.2021.19

Issue

Section

Research Article