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Histories of Northamptonshire
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Early Bronze Age Ribbon

Early Bronze Age Geologic to Prehistoric

A short piece of decorated gold strip or ribbon dating to the Bronze Age.

Bronze Age decorated gold strip or ribbon © NMAG
Bronze Age decorated gold strip or ribbon
Bronze Age gold ribbon - side views and size indication © Creative Commons Licence
Bronze Age gold ribbon - side views and size indication

This strip of decorated gold ribbon, found in Grafton Regis, shows how highly skilled Bronze Age people were at working different metals including gold and silver. Throughout human history, gold has been considered a luxury metal due to its rarity, malleability (ability to be shaped) and distinctive gleam and similar to today gold would have symbolised elite status and wealth. The ribbon with its broken ends, may have served as an ornament that was worn or applied as mount on another object. This 3.2cm long length of ribbon is incised with 8 longitudinal lines on one side and similar pierced gold ribbons have been found from the Bronze Age across Britain and Europe where they have been used to adorn jewellery and sword pommels.

Number 14 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects Exhibition 2025

2nd Image: CC Licence: The Portable Antiquities Scheme

Grafton Regis
Contributed by NMAG

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