Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia)

as an Evidence of Migrations. Invasions and cultural

penetrations during the 5th century

Ivana Popović

The jewelry represents the best testimony to the directions of the migrations of
the tribes and the penetrations of the influences from the cultural centres
towards periphery and backwards. The exceptional finds of the golden tubuli
with solidi provide valuable informations on the interaction between the
heritage of the Roman-Byzantine and Gothic culture as the consequence of the
tumultuous historical events, connected with the Hunnic-Ostrogothic incursions
into the West during the 5th century. Tubuli represent a part of a monetary
necklace, made in second half of the 5th century in the Gothic cultural circle. But,
the monetary necklaces are characteristical for the Roman goldsmithery, and
from the 3rd century they are represented in numerous hoards of valuable
objects from Gaul,1 although the most luxurious today saved specimens
originate from the eastern provinces of the Empire.2 They consist of one or more
pendants, made of coins in a decorative frame and hanged on the one-fold or
multiple gold chain, twisted in the technique «loop into loop». The specimens
with more monetary pendants contain tubuli made of gold sheet, decorated with
filigree and granulation, which separate them. But, the necklace whose parts
were found in Udovice is of somewhat different construction, although its
components and the conception of execution are based on the monetary
necklaces from the 3rd century. Deviations from the standard conception during
its execution were not only the result of the period when it was made, but, above
all, of the cultural milieu to which its owner belonged. He was the member of
the Gothic aristocracy, who came to the Serbian Danube region after the Hunnic
destruction of the Roman limes in 441. Two segments of his jewelry are
preserved.
Two gold tubuli, each with attached two solidi, had been found on two
occasions, in 1906 and 1925, in the village Udovice, near Grocka – Roman mutatio
Ad sextum miliare – about 20 km downwards the Danube from today Belgrade,
on the road beetven two legionary camps, Singidunum and Viminacium (fig. 1).

1 BRENOT, METZGER 1992, 345–352.

2 YEROLOUANU 1999, Cat. 2, 3, 7; RUSEVA-SLOKOSKA 1991, Cat. 98.
242 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
Because in Udovice an archaeological excavation has never been executed, the
nature of this site is unknown. Both tubuli where acquired by the National
Museum in Belgrade. Unfortunately, one tubulus was stolen in 1978 from the
Museum`s permanent exhibition, but, according to the inventory book, the
existing photographs and plaster casting, it could be precisely determined.
Namely, both tubuli are identical (fig. 2–3) and cast in the same mould,
representing the segments of the same jewelry. Tubuli of the circular section,
lenght 48 mm, have moulded openings, framed with the thick twisted wire (fig.
4). The entire surface is decorated with the thicker and thinner twisted wire,
depicting the alternating motifs of braids and horizontal coils. In the center of
each tubulus there is a biconical extension consisting of two rings joined by two
ribs and decorated with a row of reduced peltae in the filigree technique. By
biconical extension each tubulus is divided in two symmetrical parts. In the
middle of both halves there is one thin biconical coil, comprising of two parts on
which the junction is twisted wire. To this ring-like coils solidi are attached. Each
coil is cut in the lower section in order to insert the upper parts of solidi and this
junction is emphasized with the filigree wire. Solidi are framed within the thin
twisted wire. One tubulus was with solidi of Valentinianus III and Severus III
and the other with a solidus of Valentininianus III and solidus minted in the
time of the joint rule of Honorius and Constantius III.

A. Tubulus with solidi of Valentinianus III and Severus III, fig. 2

Found in 1925, National Museum Belgrade, inv. 556/IV
Length 48 mm, diameter of solidi 22 mm, weight 25. 18 gr
Ring-like coils on tubulus are in the axis of obverse representations on the solidi.
1. AV. DNPLAVALENTI - NIANVSPFAVC. Emperor’s bust to the right,
covered with paludamentum, fastened with circular fibula with pendants; on
the head crown with pendilia.
RV. VICTORI - AAVCCC. Emperor enthroned. In the right hand holding long
cross and in the left a globe with Victoria above it. Right foot is set on a snake
with humane head.
In field: left R, right V or M.
In ex., COMOB.
It is not clear whether it is in the field V (Ravenna) or M (Roma).
Solidus is worn and minted in Ravenna or Rome in the time of Valentinianus III
(425–455), see: Cohen VIII, 212, no. 19.
2. AV. DNLIBIVSSEV - ERVSPFAVC. Emperor’s bust to the right, covered
with paludamentum fastened with circular fibula with pendants. On the head
crown with pendilia.
 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of 243
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
RV. VICTORI - AAVCCC. Emperor enthroned. In the right hand holding long
cross and in the left a globe with Victoria above it. Right foot is set on a snake
with humane head.
In field: left R, right V.
In ex., COMOB.
Solidus was not in circulation. Minted in Ravenna in the time of Severus III (461–
465), see: Cohen VIII, 227, no. 8.
Bibl.: Saria 1925, p. 319; Garašanin 1951, p. 182; Vasić 1992, p. 294; Brenot, Metzger 1992, p.
337, no. 67; Popović 1993, p. 53, T. IV, 10, 10 a; Popović 2001, p. 53–58, 202–204, fig. 9,
cat. 67.

B. Tubulus with a solidus of Valentininianus III and solidus minted in the time
of the joint rule of Honorius and Constantius III, fig. 3.
Found in 1906, stolen from National Museum Belgrade in 1978.
Length 48 mm, diameter of solidi 22 and 23 mm, weight 24, 40 gr.
Ring-like coils on tubulus are in the axis of the obverse representations on solidi.
1. AV. DNPLAVALENTI - NIANVSPFAVC. Emperor’s bust to the right
covered with paludamentum fastened with circular fibula with pendants. On
the head crown with pendilia.
RV. VICTORI - AAVCCC. Emperor enthroned. In the right hand holding long
cross, in the left a globe with Victoria above it. Right foot is set on a snake with
humane head.
In field: left R, right V.
In ex., COMOB.
Solidus rather worn, minted in Ravenna in the time of Valentinianus III (425–
455), see: COHEN 1930, 212, no. 19.
2. AV. DNHONORI - VSPFAVC. Emperor’s bust to the right, covered with
paludamentum, fastened with circular fibula with pendants. On the head
crown with pendilia.
RV. VICTORI - AAVCCC. Emperor standing, to the right. In the right hand
holding a long labarum and in the left a globe with Victoria above it. Left foot is
set on the captive.
In field: left R, right V.
In ex., CoMoB.
Solidus is worn. Minted in Ravenna, possibly in the time of joint rule of
Honorius and Constantius III, in 421, see: COHEN 1930, 227, no. 44–45.
244 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
Bibl.: VASIĆ 1907, 208; GARAŠANIN 1951, 182, T. XXIV b; GARAŠANIN, KOVAČEVIĆ
1961, T. LXII; VASIĆ 1992, 294; POPOVIĆ 1993, 53–54, T. IV, 11, 11 a; POPOVIĆ 2001,
53–58, 202–204, cat. 67a.

The monetary analysis pointed to certain important facts. Of four solidi,

attached on two tubuli, the youngest one, that of Severus III (461–465), was
never in circulation, so it can be presumed that this jewelry was made during the
seventh decade of the 5th century. Although tubuli with solidi from Udovice
represent the extraordinary specimens from the Migration Period, in the Serbian
scientific literature they did not get the attention which they deserve, and in few
sporadic cases they were defined as the military decorations or contorniatae.3
Analyzing the Roman monetary jewelry from Serbia, I personally wrote a review
on the find of tubuli from Udovice and I have defined them as the parts of a
necklace.4 In my next work I have developed the initial idea that the jewelry with
tubuli on which solidi are fixed is a barbarian interpretation of the Roman
monetary necklaces, which were in a wide use since the second half of the 3rd
century, leaving the possibility that tubuli with solidi, the jewelry in its
conception undisputedly similar to the medallions on the analogously treated
small tubes, from the find from the site Szilágyisomlyó in Transilvania, were
attached to the wire which was connecting the ends of the torques.5 Namely, the
find from Szilágyisomlyó, whose deposition was dated into the first half of the
5th century, contained 14 gold medallions. The youngest one is the medallion of
Gratianus (367–383). They were fixed on the differently decorated tubes, and of
the tubes that carried two medallions of Valens (fig. 11), each had three circular
coils for fixing them.6 This constructive solution, cultural-historical context and
time of deposition, gave me arguments to discover close parallels in the finds
from Szilágyisomlyó and Udovice.
But, as professor Lamm from Stockholm has kindly pointed me to some
specimens of gold jewelry from Baltic-Scandinavian region, we are able to
observe the find from Udovice somewhat more clearly. Namely, at the site
Lübchow, the district Kolberg-Körlin in the Pommerania region (today the Baltic
region of Poland), was discovered a gold tubulus with fixed three solidi of
Theodosius II (408–450), minted in Constantinople and Thessalonike7 (fig. 5). To
the same find, probably, belonged also some specimens of gold jewelry and
coins. The youngest of these coins is solidus of Leo I (457–474). On basis of it, in
spite of some dilemmas, the find was dated into the second half of the 5th

3 GARAŠANIN 1951, 182, T. XXIV b; GARAŠANIN, KOVAČEVIĆ 1961, T. LXII.

4 POPOVIĆ 1993, 53–54. 58–59, T. IV, 10, 11.
5 POPOVIĆ 2001, 202–204, fig. 1. 1–1.3, cat. 67, 67a.
6 Barbarenschmuck und Römergold 1999, 117–118, Abb. 6, 163, Kat. Nr. F,12.
7 LA BAUME 1963, 21, Abb. 1,2.
 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of 245
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
century.8 Tubulus, on which these solidi are hanging, is grooved and between
the five thickenings it is wrapped in a thin filigree wire. Solidi are fixed to the
first, third and fifth thickening on tubulus. So, the system in which solidi are
hanged is somewhat different from that one used on the jewelry from Udovice,
where the coins are fixed to the ring-like threads on tubulus. Such system of
hanging was used on tubuli from two sites, Kongsvad (fig. 6) and Stehenholts
Vang, on the Danish island Seeland, on which the gold bracteates of
Scandinavian type B and C were hanged. On the specimen from the site
Kongsvard, three bracteates were hanging, and on three tubuli from the site
Stehenholts Vang two bracteates were hanged on each of them, connected by the
ring-like threads, while in the centre of tubulus there was a thicker ring-like
thread decorated with reduced peltae, made of filigree wire.9 The look of these
tubuli and the way how bracteates are hanging on them, are analogous to the
look and constructive solutions of tubuli with solidi from Udovice. Beside these
specimens, tubuli of analogous construction were found on more sites in today
Sweden and Denmark10 and in 2001 Bornhols Museum acquired parts of a
monetary necklace, consisting of 11 solidi of Valentinianus III, divided by
smaller tubuli of the same type11 (fig. 7). On some gold tubuli from the
Scandinavian finds, like those from the site Gerete and Eskatorp in Sweden,12 the
gold bracteates were hanged. It is important to mention that the impressive gold
necklaces in the form of a collar, discovered in Swedish sites Alleberg,
Färjestaden and Möne, as also the bracelets and parts of necklaces, found in
Denmark, are made of rows of tubuli with the related constructive and
decorative solutions. Although there are different oppininions about the time
when this jewelry was produced, from the time arround the year 300 until the
early 7th century,13 it is evident that these extraordinary examples and tubuli we
have mentioned above, belong to the same cultural circle.
Tubuli with solidi from Udovice and from the site Lübchow, as also the find
which was acquired by Bornholms Museum, provide some evidence for the
chronological and cultural-historical determination of this type of jewelry.
Namely, after the invasion of the Huns, the Roman Danube Limes was
destroyed in 441, and this gap on the military border led to the intrusion of the
Germanic tribes, the Ostrogoths above all, to the right bank of Danube and to the
Balkan hinterland. The find of gold tubuli with solidi in the village of Udovice,
between Singidunum and Viminacium, can be connected with these events. But,

8 LA BAUME 1963, 22–24.

9 Die Goldbrakteaten 1985, 180–181, Nr. 101, 308–309, Nr. 179, Taf. 128, 233.
10 LAMM 1991/1993, 156, Abb. 3; LAMM 1998, 338, Abb. 56.
11 http://bornholmsmuseum.dk/arkeologi/splvtar.htm.
12 ARRHENIUS 1988, 466, kat. 15, 16, Taf. 78/XI, 15; 79/XI, 16.
13 LAMM 1998, 339–400.
246 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
unusually for the finds from the Serbian Danube region, all four solidi on these
tubuli were minted in Ravenna and, maybe, in Rome, that means in the western
mints. This can be explained by the historical events during the second part of
the 5th century. The Gothic leader Anthemius, together with the commander of
the fleet Marcellinus, started a military campaign in 468 against Italy, which was
at that time mostly occupied by Vandals. But, when the leaders of the Goths and
Vandals, Aspar and Genseric, made the separate truce, the Gothic troops quickly
left Italy.14 Solidi minted in the mints on the Italian soil could be the war booty of
some of the participants in this campaign.
On the other side, the material culture during the second half of the 5th and
in the 6th century in Scandinavian countries developed under the strong
influences from the Gothic cultural circle, which, on the other side, formed itself
through the transformation of the cultural heritage of the Roman civilization.
Tubuli, on which the solidi were hanged, represent a nice example of these
complex connections and relations. They are, namely, the barbarian
interpretation of the Roman monetary necklaces, which were, since the 3rd
century, in use mainly in the eastern parts of the Empire. Most of the finds of
these necklaces originate from the present-day Egypt.15 But, when these
specimens, today in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (fig. 8), Metropolitan
Museum in New York and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City,16 are
in question, tubuli divided the monetary pendants, hanging on the multiple gold
chains. But, already on the monetary necklaces from the end of the 3rd century,
as on that one whose segments are preserved in the Beaureains treasure in
Gaul,17 monetary pendants were, instead of rings, hanged on the chain with
smaller tubuli (fig. 9). On the find from Szilágyisomlyó, which belongs to the
Germanic cultural circle of the early 5th century, we find the medallions fixed on
smaller tubuli, decorated not only with the filigree18 (fig. 10), but also with the
triple ring-like coils19 (fig. 11). This is the idea developed on somewhat later
specimens of jewelry from Udovice (fig. 12) and from the site Lübchow, on
which solidi are fixed directly to tubuli and not threaded between them. But,
while the jewelry from the site Lübchow in its conception continues the ideas of
the monetary pendants on tubuli decorated with filigree, the specimens from
Udovice and from the Danish island of Seeland are leaning more on the
constructive solutions used on the already mentioned medallions of
Valentinianus, Valens and Gratianus, from the find in Szilágysomlyó. Although,

14 STEIN 1968, 389–391.

15 POPOVIĆ 2001, 203.
16 YEROLOUANU 1999, Cat. 2,3,7.
17 YEROLOUANU 1999, Cat. 110.
18 Barbarenschmuck und Römergold 1999, Kat. Nr. 8–10, 14.
19 Barbarenschmuck und Römergold 1999, Kat. Nr. 12, 13, 15.
 Segments of the Monetary Necklace from Udovice (Serbia) as an Evidence of 247
Migrations. Invasions and cultural penetrations during the 5th century
as we can see, the system of connecting the coins and tubuli on the specimens
from these sites differ in details, the common characteristic of all these finds is
that the luxurious frames on the pendants from the necklaces from the 3rd
century, made by lace-like cutting of the gold foil in the technique of opus
interrasile, are replaced with the simple bordering of coins with twisted wire. All
the attention of the artist was concentrated on the tubulus, which gets the
luxurious look. But, as, beside tubuli with solidi, at the site Lübchow were found
the gold bracteates, and as six bracteates probably belong to the same find as the
monetary necklace with solidi of Valentinianus III, it can be supposed that
necklaces with solidi and those with bracteates were at one moment
simultaneously in use. On the other side, the necklaces whose parts were
acquired by Bornholms Museum shows that at the same time were used the
necklaces made of tubuli with fixed solidi and those with threaded solidi, which
were divided by smaller tubuli, decorated with filigree and granulation. Next
conclusion to which the finds from Udovice and from the Baltic sites point, is
that tubuli with applied bracteates from the site on the Danish island Seeland
were made approximately at the same time as analogous tubuli with solidi from
Udovice, although it is possible that such jewelry was also used somewhat later.
Tubuli with bracteates represent, at all probability, the local adaptation of tubuli
with solidi, which would be the final phase of transformation of Roman
monetary necklaces from the second half of the 3rd century, i.e. of their
adaptation to the taste of the barbarians.
Anyway, the find of tubuli with solidi from Udovice by its characteristics is
different from the late antique jewelry from the Serbian Danube region. This is
the result of the migrations of the Goths and of their settlement in this region.
The analogous finds from the Baltic region are the result of the long-lasting
cultural influences from the artistic centres on the Black Sea coast. Although
geographically remote, the finds from Udovice and from the Baltic region bear
witness to the influences which the heritage of the Gothic culture, based on the
traditions of the Roman civilization, had on the formation of the local cultures in
the great part of the European region. The question if in these processes the
decisive role had the migrations of the population or the strong influences from
the bigger cultural centres, still stays open.