Museum of: Wien
    Name of the artefact: Golden disc from Stollhof
   
In 1864 one of the most important neolithic finds was detected near Stollhof in the Hohe Wand area. The six spectacle pendants, two flat axes, two arm spirals, a metal sheet shaped like a boar´s tusk and nine spiral rolls made of copper as well as two golden discs. The discs consist of massive sheets of gold with three hammered knobs. Three concentric rows of hammerd points surround the edge of the discs. Presumably the discs have been sewn to some sort of textile as the small holes might indicate. They also could have been used as amulettts. The discs are supposed to be stylised symbols of a goddess.
                                 
 
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
  
STATE
Department:
Prehistory
Preservation:
 Very good
Inventory number:
13.799
Restauration:
 Restored
Name of the artefact:
Golden disc from Stollhof
Completeness:
 Complete
Object type:
Amulet
  
Material:
Gold
Methof of manufacture:
Hammered gold sheets
Decoration type:
No decoration
Distinctive mark:
-
DIMENSIONS
  
PERIOD OF USE
Length (mm):
-
Epoque:
Neolithic
Heigth (mm):
-
Culture:
-
Diameter (mm):
-
Period:
Late Neolithic
Width (mm):
-
Face:
-
Thickness (mm):
-
Absolute chronology:
4000 bc
Weight (g):
-
DISCOVERY
Date:
1864
Country:
Austria
District:
Wiener Neustadt
Town hall affiliation:
-
Village:
Stollhof
Discovery findspot:
Hohe Wand
Condition of discovery:
Chance Discovery
Discovery type:
Deposit
 
ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS
 
FILLED IN BY
Type:
-
Name:
Walpurga Antl
Laboratory:
-
Institution:
Naturhistorisches Museum
No./Code:
-
Date:
17/02/2006
 
DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:
The discs consist of massive sheets of gold with three hammered knobs. Three concentric rows of hammered points surround the edge of the discs.

Decoration:
Hammered knobs and points

Inscription:
-

Analogies:
Similar finds in Southeastern Europe confirm contacts between these two regions. Golden discs from Csáford (Hungary)

Interpretation:
Sometimes regarded as stylised symbols of a goddess.
Bibliography:
ANGELI, W. (1967): Der Depotfund von Stollhof. Ann. d. Nat. Hist. Mus. 70, 491-497 ANGELI, W. (1972): Goldamulette. In: Idole. Prähistorische Keramiken aus Ungarn. Veröff. D. Naturhist. Mus., NF 7, 27-30. DUMITRESCU, H. (1961): Connections between the cucteni-Tripolje cultural complex and the neighbouring eneolithic cultures in the light of the utilization of golden pendants. Dacia 5, 69ff. KOREK, J. (1960): Die Goldscheiben von Csáford. Folia Arch, 12, 27ff. MAKKAY, J. (1985): Copper Age gold discs on the territory of the later Pannonia Province. Comm. Arch. Hung. 1985, 5-25. PATAY, P. (1958): Kupferzeitliche Goldfunde. Arch. Ert. 85, 45ff. SACKEN, E. (1865): Die Funde aus der langen Wand bei Wiener Neustadt. Sitzungsber. Ak. Wiss. Phil. Hist. Kl, 49, H. 1, 123ff.