Star decoration on Late Bronze Age helmets, cups and decorated discs in central and south-eastern Europe

Abstract

Analyses and documentation of Bronze Age armour pieces from eastern and central Europe revealed that a considerable number of fragments previously attributed to helmets were in fact parts of discs with comparable decoration. The latter consists of single or multiple embossed lines shaped into conjoining arcs arranged in a circle and forming a star. The arcs are sometimes filled with small embossed pellets surrounded by a single or multiple rings, termed ring-and-dot decoration. The whole might be surrounded by either a single or multiple embossed rings. The article presents all the bronze cups, helmets and discs, including fragments, as well as ceramic vessels that are decorated with this star motif; it also discusses and defines their origin, distribution and typology

Keywords

• central and south-eastern europe
• star decoration
• helmets
• decorated discs
• cups
• late bronze age