Una valva da fusione di età altomedievale dal territorio altinate
abstract
The article presents a mould cast from the Early Middle Ages preserved in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Altino (VE). The artifact was used for the production of three-hoops earrings (‘Pinguente type’), rings and, perhaps, front closures of basket-earrings. Although it doesn’t have a context of discovery, it probably originates from the Altino area. The valve can be dated witihin the seventh century, although a slightly wider chronology cannot be excluded. It belongs to a group of rather rare archaeological finds that were used in early medieval metallurgical processes.
Keywords: Altino • Early Middle Ages • Mould Cast • Three-hoops Earrings • Roman-byzantine Craftmanship