Tangendorf disc brooch, Iron Age disc brooch at Archaeological Museum Hamburg, Germany
The Tangendorf disc brooch is an Iron Age ornament with a silver disc that was fire-gilded and mounted on a copper plate. The piece measures roughly 2 inches (6 centimeters) across and shows a four-legged animal figure on its reverse side.
The brooch was excavated in 1930 from a burial mound near Tangendorf and then fell from view for years. It resurfaced in 1938 when someone brought it back to attention.
The brooch displays an animal figure on its back surrounded by an ornamental ring that reflects Roman artistic forms. This blend of local craftsmanship and southern influences reveals the connections that existed during this period.
The brooch is on display at the Archaeological Museum Hamburg alongside other regional finds within the permanent exhibition. You can view it as part of the collection covering northern German history from ancient times onward.
Since 2002, the town of Toppenstedt features a stylized version of this brooch in its coat of arms, turning a small piece of jewelry into part of the town's identity. This unusual choice honors an archaeological discovery in the community's official symbols.
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