Celtiberian Bronze Dove Fibula in the Archaeological Museum of Madrid, October 2022

inventory 1940/27/ARC/2168

Generic Classification Clothing; metals; personal ornaments; grave goods

Object/Document Fibula

Typology/State Zoomorphic; La Tene II. Silver 8-B1.1

Matter/Support Bronze
Engraving technique
Molten

Dimensions Height = 3.60 cm; Width = 1cm; Thickness = 0.80cm
Fibula bridge: Length = 2.70 cm

Description Bronze fibula with a bird-shaped bridge, decoration with incised lines on the neck, beginning of the spine and beak. The needle and spring are missing. It is a fibula of the La tène III type (Argente type C), which has been considered to represent a dove, which in the Celtic world was given healing properties.

The analysis of its metallic components indicates that it is a ternary bronze with a high lead content and also the presence of iron and antimony.

This type of zoomorphic fibulae is more frequent in the Meseteño areas than in the Iberian ones.

Dove iconography

Dating 300[ac]=201[ac] (S. III a.C.)

Cultural Context/Style Celtiberian culture

Place of Origin Arcobriga Necropolis, Monreal de Ariza (Calatayud (region), Zaragoza)

Specific Place/Arcobriga Necropolis Site

History of the Object Collection: Cerralbo

Reasoned Classification The fibula was analyzed in September 2011 by X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) with an INNOV-X Alpha spectrometer with the number PA20632, by Ignacio Montero, scientific researcher at the CSIC.

Cataloger Protohistory and Colonizations

Text from: ceres.mcu.es/pages/Main