News on the so-called drinking horn fitting from Bad Dürkheim – On sheet gold work of the Early Latène Period

Abstract

Within the framework of a new investigation of the gold grave goods of the Early Latène elite grave of Bad Dürkheim, a new reconstruction of the six preserved gold sheet fragments could be carried out, which until now had been addressed largely unquestioned as components of a drinking horn fitting. The stylistic and technological classification of this piece forms the starting point for an internal typology. For the present fitting, the possible uses are to be openly explored. Due to the stylistic parallels to other fittings of the Late Hallstatt and Early Latène periods, it is not possible to maintain an unambiguous classification as a drinking horn fitting, but neither can it  be rejected. Observations within the framework of the CELTIC GOLD project further revealed that early Latène work made of thin gold sheet was regularly fixed to a bronze base.