Open AccessNot just a belt: Astragal belts as part of late iron age female costume in the south-eastern Carpathian basin
Author(s) -
Marko Dizdar,
Asja Tonc
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
starinar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0739
pISSN - 0350-0241
DOI - 10.2298/sta1868047d
Subject(s) - iron age , bronze age , identity (music) , period (music) , ancient history , structural basin , pannonian basin , production (economics) , bronze , geography , history , archaeology , art , geology , aesthetics , paleontology , macroeconomics , economics
The focus of the paper is on bronze astragal belts in the south-eastern part of the Carpathian Basin, interpreted as part of the female costume. In particular, their production seems to have two peaks, one at the end of the Early Iron Age (6th-4th cent. BC) and another during the Late La T?ne period. However, there is a continuity of the form throughout the Late Iron Age. Requiring a significant amount of material and craftsmanship, these belts imply the presence of skilled artisans, as well as a supply network that enabled the production. A new typological and chronological assessment of the known examples allows not only a better understanding of the possible production areas of astragal belts, but also the social implications behind the organisation of production, offering also the possibility to better evaluate the role of this particular item as a part of the autochthonous female costume and identity.