Tomb of a Merovingian aristocrat from Bertrange
Bibliographic data
Description
- Title:
- Tomb of a Merovingian aristocrat from Bertrange
- Inventory Number:
- 1997-82
- Collection:
- Middle Ages
- Domain:
- Beliefs - Traditions
- Designation:
- Tomb
- Period | Style | Movement:
- Merovingian
- Material | Technique:
- Gold, almandine, pearls, bronze/copper alloy, iron, pewter, glass, rock crystal, human bones
- Geographical Reference:
- Site of discovery: Luxembourg | Bourmicht (Bertrange)
- Place in Museum:
- MNHA | Main building | Floor -1
Contents
- Description:
-
The “the tomb of the noble woman” – tomb 5 – is part of an aristocratic Frankish necropolis of thirteen burials located on the site of the Gallo-Roman villa of Bertrange - Bourmicht. It was discovered during excavations in 1997/1998. The 6th- and 7th-century necropolis spread across the area of two annex buildings of the Gallo-Roman domain.
The deceased, a woman of about fifty, had been interred with a profusion of funeral offerings: her body had been adorned with exquisite jewels, including six pendants and two elliptical gold fibulae decorated with incrustations of almandine and pearls as well as filigree ornaments. A square wooden cassette with a hinged lid had been placed near her head. The front of this box was covered with engraved bronze plates. On a background [#pas de virgule ici: c’est l’arrière-plan qui imite l’étoffe, pas les motifs] imitating the structure of a fabric, the décor of the plates shows four repeating patterns: a veiled horsewoman, a man with raised arms sitting on a throne, a lamb and a circular pattern with snakes. These engraved panels are truly unique ornaments. The funeral offerings also include a wooden bucket with bronze attachments, a jug, three bowls of very fine glass, a large bronze basin, a knife, several coloured glass and amber beads as well as a rock crystal amulet.
This tomb is one of the richest burials of the Merovingian period in the region between the Meuse and Rhine rivers. It reflects the high social status and exceptional wealth of an aristocratic Frankish family that lived in Bertrange.
More Information
- Bibliography:
- Polfer, M. [Dir.] (2017). MNHA 100 Objets. Luxembourg : Musée national d'histoire et d'art.| p. 56-57
Krier, J. (2011). Die Dame von Bartringen - Eine fränkische Adelige aud dem 6. Jahrhundertn. Chr. Dans Musée national d'histoire et d'art, & Centre national de recherche archéologique, Sous nos pieds : Archäologie au Luxembourg 1995 - 2010 [Catalogue d'exposition] (pp.173-176). Luxembourg : MNHA-CNRA.
metadataTab3
- Copyright:
-
Work: Public Domain
Image(s): CC0
Metadata: CC0
- Photographer:
- Tom Lucas