The Gold Treasure from Vrap in Albania

The treasure from Vrap in Albania belongs among the most important early-medieval find-complexes from central and eastern Europe and the whole mediterranean world. It was uncovered in 1901 by a peasant doing agricultural work and entered the art market. The main part of the known objects, 13 vessels of silver or gold as well resp. components of candlesticks, a gold ingot and 25 belt ornaments, as well as 20 rivets, were bought by J. Pierpont Morgan and bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum, New York. A golden goblet came to the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, a handled golden bowl to Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. The treasure as preserved to the present day consists of objects which weigh approximately 5,5 kg gold and 1,4 kg silver. The 8th century treasure sheds light on the culture-historical questions, concerning the relations between the Byzantine world and the Slavs and Avars on the norther periphery of the Empire. At the same time it is of great importance in art history, since, because of the iconoclastic movement only few (datable) expressions of art have survived from the period of its deposition. In the literature published to date the complex has been interpreted in quite different ways, both in terms of chronology and its cultural ascription. Even the basic documentation (catalogue) does not meet modern standards by far. At the centre of interest is the connection of the belt fittings to Avar ones of the first half of the 8th century, because this context gives us the date of the deposition, but also hints about tradition and reception from the mediterranean world of styles of representation, of technology, forms and motifs by the Avars in the Carpathian Basin. The goal of the proposed project is principally a complete documentation of all the individual elements of the treasure by means of photographs, graphics, technical drawings of construction details and catalogue. There will be also investigation of casting techniques of the goldsmith`s craft, metal content, traces of tools for reconstructing the production, later modifications, additions and traces of use. After extensive chronological, iconergraphic and art- historical evaluation all results will be published in a monograph. This will be completed by collecting unpublished parallels and technological data mainly from belt fittings in central, south-eastern and eastern Europe, including the Crimea, which will be undertaken by two half-time doctorate students.