Una valva da fusione di età altomedievale dal territorio altinate

The article presents a mould cast from the Early Middle Ages preserved in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Altino (VE). The artifact was used for the production of three-hoops earrings (‘Pinguente type’), rings and, perhaps, front closures of basketearrings. Although it does not have a context of discovery, it probably originates from the Altino area. The valve can be dated witihin the 7th c., although a slightly wider chronology cannot be excluded. It belongs to a group of rather rare archaeological finds that were used in early medieval metallurgical processes.