All that glitters is gold?: the scarcity of gold among the Balts

ENEven if widely recognized – a small number of exceptions apart – the scarcity of gold finds from the territory occupied in the Roman Period and the Migration Period by Balt cultures2 has not been examined at more length in the literature3. While in recent years, especially owing to metal detector use, our record of gold and – most notably – gilded artefacts has been increasing4, they continue to be isolated finds greatly outdistanced in number by finds from the neighbouring territory settled by Germanic cultures. Both in Scandinavia and in the territory of the Wielbark Culture locally produced gold objects, mostly jewellery and dress accessories, are noted in quantity since phase B2/C1, i.e., the second half of the second century AD (R. Wołągiewicz 1974; K. Andersson 1993a; 1993b; 1995; M. Natuniewicz-Sekuła 2012), and their number continues growing during the later period5. At the same time, archaeological studies and the record afforded by the Germania of Tacitus, even if it relates to the 1st century AD, show that the Western Balts at least dressed in a very similar manner to the Germanic Suebians (J. Kolendo 1998, 59–60; 2008, 176–178; J. Kolendo, T. Płóciennik 2015, 221; cf. M. Tempelmann-Mączyńska 1989). The largest concentrations of finds of specific types or variants of brooches have been noted in the territory of individual Western Balt cultures and groups on the one hand and in the territory of the Wielbark Culture, or in Scandinavia, Gotland in particular, on the other hand (W. Nowakowski 1989; A. J. Andrzejowski,A. Cieśliński 2007). This is true of e.g., brooch types A.726, Dollkeim-Kovrovo7, Schönwarling/ Skowarcz, and forms with a star-shaped foot (A. Bitner- Wróblewska 1991; 2001).Similar observations can be made for some categories of local jewellery. According to A. Bitner-Wróblewska, one form of personal ornament evolved within the Western Balt community definitely under the impact of the Wielbark Culture craft, are the ‘cuff bracelets’ (Manschettenarmringe), inspired by Gothic ‘snake’ bracelets. A significant effect of the influence of the Gothic goldwork within the Balt environment is the decorating of brooches with coiled notched wire, which we can trace to the flamboyant style of metalwork described by archaeologists in our region as the ‘Wielbark Baroque’ (A. Bitner-Wróblewska 1989; 2001; O. Khomiakova 2012; K. Skvortsov 2012, 175). At the same time, in the Balt territory these brooches tend to be made of brass, with a golden sheen, with only an occasional specimens gilded, tinned or silver plated (A. Bezzenberger 1904; W. Nowakowski 1995, 29–30, 32–33; A. Bitner-Wróblewska 2001, 36). Thus, the question as to why in the Balt territory the number of objects made of gold is so small is fully justified. Let us answer this question by using a relatively broad selection of comparative sources.