The power of the belts. Lower Austria as a contact zone of the bronze casting industry in the 8th century AD

Belts decorated with metal fittings were prestigious objects belonging to an elite social class in the 8th century Avar Empire. Their high number on the western edge of the empire in what is now Lower Austria is astonishing. Until now, these objects have mainly been studied typologically. In our project, they will be analyzed in their entirety for the first time using a combination of archaeological, iconographic, technological, and chemical methods (element and lead isotope analysis). The starting point for the investigation is 100 fittings from burial grounds in Lower Austria. By recording measurements, surface characteristics, and material composition, a multidimensional catalog of characteristics will be created and statistically evaluated. This information will be combined with genetic and anthropological knowledge on the belt wearers, which was obtained in the framework of a previous project. This should clarify key questions about the organization and location of production, the transfer of raw materials in the 8th century, and the social role of their wearers. The results will not only be published in specialist circles, but also communicated to the public through the experimental reconstruction of a belt set. Through our in-depth investigations, we want to find out what lies behind the “power of belts” and what role Lower Austria played as a contact zone for the bronze casting industry.