Proof that women have ALWAYS loved jewellery . . .

[Neil]

By Kerry Mcdermott

She may have walked the earth thousands of years ago, but this woman was clearly as fond of a nice piece of jewellery as the average 21st Century girl.

The female skeleton, which is believed to date back to between 1550 and 1250BC, was discovered in Rochlitz, south of Halle in eastern Germany, while construction was underway to build a new rail track.


The Middle Bronze Age woman had been buried wearing an elaborate headband made up of tiny bronze spirals.

Staff at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, where the skeleton is now on display as part of its permanent exhibition, said similar spirals uncovered in the past had been found separate and loose. 

Tomoko Emmerling, the museum's press officer, said the discovery gave historians an insight into how the spirals were worn in the Middle Bronze Age.

Rare: Staff at the museum said the woman's skeleton, which dates back to the Middle Bronze Age, was excavated in a block
The ancient skeleton, which was excavated within a block in 2008, went on display at the German museum today.

It is among thousands of artefacts in a new section of its permanent exhibition entitled 'Glutgeboren', or 'Ember Born'.
The display includes items from the middle and late Bronze Age as well as from the pre-Roman Iron Age.

[rjm]

Very interesting. I wonder what they used to string them together?

[Neil]

No idea Bob, but it looks like its annealed itself to the skull - I am guessing at some form of catgut from sheep/cow stomach lining.

It was apparenlty found with the head band still in situ.

Cheers
Neil

[Val Beechey]

There's something vey appealing about anything shiney. It doesn't matter what. It must be something in our female nature to collect these things.
Last year, when I came across those lumps of rock crystal glinting in the Sun, I couldn't resist collecting some of them. Apart from the fact that they were 'out of context' they just looked so pretty. Since then I've discovered that they could have been placed on a burial mound some time during the Bronze Age. Others have been recorded.

Val

[Chef Geoff]

Very interesting. I wonder what they used to string them together?

They're coils not rings, so there is no string. Think "spring"

[Mike]

must have been uncomfortable to wear springs on your bonce , unless they were placed on her after she died as a ceremonial thing    very interesting read though , thanks neil

[Chef Geoff]

No No No...They would have been stitched to a band, either leather or other fabric.

[dances with badgers]

looks like rambo