View of gold fibula.Image after J. Biel.
Image after J. Biel.
Length ca. 6.5 and 6.1 cm; between 16 and 18 grams of gold each.
Stuttgart: Württembergisches Landesmuseum.
Fibulae are pins, normally used to fasten clothing. These serpentine fibulae, and two counterparts on bronze, were found on the upper chest of the "chieftain's" body. Each is composed of seven separately-worked parts.
Additional bronze fibulae were found in the Hochdorf tomb; two on the "chieftain's" breast, while the rest were used to attach textiles to the wooden walls of the burial chamber. Because of the date of the cauldron, the precise dating of the Hochdorf tumulus is difficult, and may require a re-evaluation of the chronology of late Hallstatt fibulae.
Alternate view of fibulae.