RINGS MADE OF TWISTED WIRE AND THEIR IMITATIONS FOUND IN TRANSILVANIA, CRIȘANA, BANAT, AND DOBRUDJA (10TH – 12TH CENTURIES)

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the rings made of twisted wire and cast specimens imitating the twisted ones. Such adornments were discovered in 40 sites situated in the area of 33 nowadays settlements. The rings, made of gold, silver and bronze, were mostly found in funerary structures, less in treasures or accidental discoveries. In order to gather more information about this type of jewellery, the author have analysed the burials in which were deposited, the chronology of the cemeteries, the funerary rite, rituals and other adornments that have been associated with the above mentioned rings. The association, in some cases, of the rings with coins provides significant data regarding the absolute chronology of the items. The way such adornments were manufactured, the patterns and the territorial distribution were discussed too. Finally, he has tried to answer to the complicated question regarding the origin of such rings. Taking into account their territorial distribution, he believes that such rigs were rather a fashion than markers of a certain funerary horizon.