Zierscheibe
Decorative plate referred to in the archeology thin, disk-shaped Pendant, with a probably apotropaic function that were common from antiquity to the Merovingian period in Central Europe.
Decorative washers were disseminated by the early Bronze Age around 800 BC until the Iron Age in Europe. The highest penetration learned decorative washers in the Alemannic, Franconian and Bavarian women's fashion. With increasing Christianization of early medieval population decorative washers gradually disappeared almost completely from the women's costume. The ornamental windows were mostly made of bronze, iron and rare even rarer in silver or gold. They were mostly open work and provided with elaborate hallmarking. During the term of their use decorative washers learned very characteristic and varied trendy designs. Many ornamental wheels exhibited abstract, geometric pattern in a symmetrical layout. Some showed depictions of animals in the animal style I like snakes or birds' heads, which are arranged as Triskele or quatrefoil. A small group of ornamental discs showed two people who are intertwined with their limbs, or even simple images with horse riders. In addition to the pure jewelry character primarily a function amulet are the decorative washers, archaeologists, historians and folklorists, attributed. Ornamental discs were individually carried on Gürtelgehänge of women, on a ribbon that hung from the belt of the wearer and could be attached to the a whole range of other amulets or devices. About the exact carrying way archeology is not yet agreed. Especially in large decorative washers, in combination with a enclosing bone, wood or metal ring, it was assumed that they were the closure of a bag-shaped pocket. The evaluation of current archaeological finds will be in the future a more accurate picture to carry.