Ancient Europe, Germany, Middle Bronze Age, Tumulus culture, ca. 1600 to 1200 BCE. A set of 3 bronze wire torqs (also torc) from ancient Germany. Each is decorated with dense spiraling motifs that create a personalized presentation, and thick layers of naturally-occurring patina in hues of green and brown have formed across the surfaces. European Bronze Age jewelry pieces like these are not common with torque neck rings and larger pieces being far more rare than simple finger rings since the necklace required more bronze to make and greater work to hand-fabricate versus simple casting. Size of largest: 7" Diameter (17.8 cm)

The Tumulus culture dominated Central Europe during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1600 to 1200 BC). It was the descendant of the Unetice culture. Its heartland was the area previously occupied by the Unetice culture besides Bavaria and W?rttemberg. It was succeeded by the Late Bronze Age Urnfield culture. The Tumulus culture was eminently a warrior society, which expanded with new chiefdoms eastward into the Carpathian Basin (up to the river Tisza), and northward into Polish and Central European Unetice territories. The culture's dispersed settlements centered in fortified structures.

As the name implies, the Tumulus culture is distinguished by the practice of burying the dead beneath burial mounds (tumuli or kurgans). The Tumulus culture was prevalent during the Middle Bronze Age. Tumuli have been used elsewhere in Europe from the Stone Age to the Iron Age yet, the term "Tumulus culture" specifically refers to the South German variant of the Bronze Age.

Please note that this piece is a dropship item, meaning that it will be shipping from the consignor's location. All information regarding condition, size, stone identification, and metal content have been provided by the consignor.

Provenance: ex-private German collection, formed in the 1950s

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#184099

Each is complete and unbroken with no repairs or restoration. Some softening to finer details, with nice patina throughout.