Amber in the Circum-Adriatic Bronze Age

Archaeologists have been interested in amber and its value for prehistoric societies ever since H. Schliemann (1822-1890) discovered artefacts made of succinite in the Shafts Graves of Mycenae. The book looks for answers about the role of the lands surrounding the Adriatic Sea in amber's transfer from Northern to Southern Europe.

The present book takes up the long-debated subject of the presence of amber around the Adriatic during the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC). It offers an exhaustive review of the current state of knowledge about the use of amber by prehistoric communities living on the opposite sides of the sea. The author focuses primarily on the spatial and chronological aspects of amber's acquisition in Italy and the Balkans, form and function of the artefacts made of it, issues connected to their processing and ways of circulation of these products within the study area. Furthermore, attention is paid to material and symbolic statuses of amber among the local societies. Finally, the role of the circum-Adriatic zone in the long-range transfer of amber from Northern to Southern Europe is assessed.

Autorentext

Mateusz Cwali ski obtained his Ph.D. at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznä, Poland. His research interests include prehistoric archaeology, Bronze Age studies, archaeological prospection, and links between burial rites and social structure.

Inhalt

Amber in prehistoric communities, Bronze Age, Adriatic during the Bronze Age