Grave Goods
The material culture of the Visigothic kingdom is not easily apparent in the archaeological record. Surviving examples of personal ornaments therefore provide a valuable opportunity to understand how the Visigoths chose to express their identities. These objects provide information about both individual and social traditions as well as manufacturing techniques and ornamental styles, as we have explored in other sections of this exhibition.
Ensembles: There were several types of objects, found in the graves mentioned below, that were included in the ensembles of Visigothic personal ornament. Among these are belt buckles, fibulae, brooches, necklaces, earrings, and belt fittings, all of which are represented in this exhibition.
Graves: Some Migration Period jewelry that is now in museum collections comes from excavated graves. These contexts give insight into how these objects may have been worn in life, and signs of wear indicate that some were in fact worn before burial. They do not, however, necessarily document daily habits of personal adornment but instead indicate aspects of the deceased’s status and identity that they—or their families—wished to promote in death. The types of personal items in this exhibition have been found predominantly in female graves. From grave contexts we also learn that not everyone was buried with personal ornaments. If we accept these objects as a sign of wealth and identity, this information indicates that there was a class structure present within the Visigothic culture of the Iberian Peninsula.
This image to the left shows evidence that this particular buckle was laid against some type of cloth with a visible weave pattern. The reactions that occur within the metal over an extended period of time create a visual impression of the cloth, even after the cloth itself has long disintigrated. This evidence can help confirm the grave contexts of Migration Period objects.
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