Ave!

Bracelet, Urnfield or Hallstatt Culture, c. 8th-6th Cent. BC

Copper alloy; 59mm/44.9gm!

Con/ Slightly bent and missing (silver?) ornament, otherwise, As Cast and Fabricated. Pale green/brown patina, cleaned and waxed.

The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Western and Central European culture in the Early Iron Age Europe from the 8th to 6th centuries BC, developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC (Late Bronze Age) and followed in much of its area by the La Tène culture. It is commonly associated with Proto-Celtic and Celtic populations in the Western Hallstatt zone and with (pre-) Illyrians in the eastern Hallstatt zone.

Seller's Note/ So what's going on here? Dating such bracelets is difficult as they all look the same. Could be the Iron age Hallstatt culture or the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC (Late Bronze Age), so take your pick. But what is with the missing ornament?

Please compare it to a similar bracelet found here. 

Unlike the example linked above, this new example was cast to hold an ornament. As seen In our photo, all that gnarly goop is either ancient solder or glue of some sort; either way, it's rock hard. Ground found in a Celtic settlement south of the Drava River, our best guess is that once this particular bracelet arrived into the settlement (with the ornament intact) it was worn for many centuries. But, still surmising, when the bracelet linked above was traded, a silver piece was added for more bling. When that occurred is problematic, but most likely around 700 BC or somewhat earlier. Wow!

Is this rare? You think? Stop it! Incredibly rare, for sure. Small bracelets like this could have been worn by Celtic men or women, as they all liked their bling. Remember, when traded as new, it was bright and shiny bronze.

Museum quality and our price is ridiculously low, trust me.