Ear Spools from 1st Millennium BC: Definition and Identification
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2021
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Mersin Univ Publ Res Center Cilician Archaeology
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
Özet
We can assert that it has been traditionally difficult in archaeology to identify ear spools and to determine their function. In publications and exhibitions, the functions of ear spools can be reported as reels, bobbins, weight, game stones, jewellery; appliques, buttons, tokens, disks, pedestals, buckles, corks, caps, clothing parts, furniture parts or unidentifiable objects. Additional ascriptions such as lenses, magnifiers and lighters have been proposed due to samples made of transparent mountain crystal. The objective of this study is to eliminate the confusion of functionality of the same object made of different materials from a holistic approach and to support these definitions with the help of various depictions and ethnoarchaeology. In the context of this study, the earring function is taken into consideration for those artefacts shaped roughly the same but made of stones such as mountain crystal, semi-precious stones, marble or of metals such as gold, electron, silver, bronze or of different materials such as terracotta, glass, tiles, bone, ivory, amber and wood. Researchers have sometimes included examples of ear spools in their publications under different names. Spools are known from the 3rd and 2nd Millennium BC used for weaving, usually larger than five inches and made of stone or terracotta The weaving spools are excluded from this study, which are roughly built, large in size, sometimes included in weaving loom depictions and dated relatively earlier than ear spools. This study will discuss the uses of ear spools during the 2nd Millennium BC briefly and then it will focus in detail on their presence during the first half of the 1st Millennium BC and the area of distribution as well as the diversity of raw materials. Based on the reported examples and depictions of small spools which brought uncertainties about their function and naming, we will present some personal thoughts and assessments for the consideration of the researchers on their use as earrings during the 1st Millennium BC. Ethnoarchaeology, depictions, and data from ancient sources are used in a method that is as holistic as possible. Although a few researchers have referred to disc earrings in their descriptions, they have agreed that there is not enough archaeological example to prove any of their descriptions. Therefore, in this study we tried to increase the number of examples including archaeological finds made of different materials. The use of earrings by genders in Mediterranean and Anatolian cultures is also discussed. Possible regional results are questioned based on the distribution of findings and of depictions of ear spools. When we evaluate the ear spools that were made of different materials and their depictions. it would be erroneous to oppose their existence until the end of the 6th Century BC or to deny their function as earrings. Therefore, it is proposed that they should be accepted as the most common form of earrings of the first half of 1st Millennium BC considering the information I tried to fit in the scope of this study, as well as the similarities in material and in size between the antic and the contemporary ear spools. Apart from that, another group of finds with debated function, often identified as astragali, is proposed to entitle as unused and combined pair of ear spool.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Spool, Earring, Ear Stud, Ear Tunnel, Jewelry, Lydia
Kaynak
Olba
WoS Q Değeri
N/A
Scopus Q Değeri
Cilt
29
