Ralf Schwarz, Goldene Schläfen- und Lockenringe – Herrschaftsinsignien in bronzezeitlichen Ranggesellschaften Mitteldeutschlands - Überlegungen zur Gesellschaft der Aunjetitzer Kultur. Tagungen Landesmus. Vorgesch. Halle 11 (Halle (Saale) 2014) 717-742. (original) (raw)

Gold temple rings – insignia of power in Bronze Age hierarchical societies of Central Germany In the course of the Early Bronze Age (2200–1550 BC), chieftaincies were established in Central Germany for the first time. In contrast to tribal societies – such as may be assumed for the Neolithic Period – chieftaincies are hierarchical societies. From an ethnological point of view, these consist of a number of descent lines (lineages, clans), which do not coexist with the same rights, but are instead hierarchically structured. Hierarchical societies may be inferred from the archaeological context through the differences in the quality and composition of grave goods, in which within the classic and post-classic stages (1975–1550 BC) of the Únětice Culture, in the Mittelsaale-Unstrut-group, five categories of grave equipment can be distinguished. In this the individuals buried without grave goods form the lowest level (Level 5) of the social pyramid. They are followed by a broad level (Level 4) of persons who are distinguished by being buried with exclusively ceramic grave goods (usually only one cup). Persons of a higher social level (Level 3) than this are distinguished by being laid to rest with bronze jewellery (often only one or two pins). The society of the Early Bronze Age was thus essentially composed of three hierarchical groups (the 3rd to 5th levels). The members of the 2nd level, which essentially consists of individual functionaries, on the other hand, were marked by wearing one or two golden ringlets at their temples. Beyond this, however, they are also distinguished by further grave goods that were usually not granted to the members of the 3rd level: a weapon, namely an axe or dagger, and solid bronze jewellery. The top of the social pyramid was formed by paramounts, who also wore golden temple ringlets and had weapons, but for them the pins and bangles were also of gold. Given that the graves of the 2nd level do not hold any other gold items apart from these ringlets, it can be suspected that these are insignia, possession of which was restricted and regulated and hence that they marked an institutionalised status. Given, then, that the extensive golden grave goods of the paramounts in the Middle and Late Bronze Age did not continue thereafter, whereas the golden temple rings later retained their significance as insignia marking out persons with leadership roles, the conclusion is permissible that in the bearers of the golden temple rings we see the society’s chieftains. The formation of a society with paramounts is, however, an unusual feature of the Mittel-Saale-group of the Únětice Culture in Central Germany. Evidently it was the chief of Leubingen who first managed to raise himself above the other chieftains and to secure his authority, in that he succeeded in binding to himself the power to dispose a part of the goods produced and of their redistribution (both of which are criteria for the ethnological definition of chieftaincies). Together with this went the distribution of metals to the different levels of society, which laid the foundations of the hierarchical distinctions.