Betrachtungen zur Entstehung, Verbreitung und Vielfalt spätkaiserzeitlicher Knopfhenkelgefässe

In this article, a late Roman Iron Age group of vessels is dealt with which has had a long tradition as a subject of archaeological research history. A connecting element is its characteristic handle construction from which the obvious name of button-handle vessels has been derived. Vessels of this type appeared for the first time in stage Cla, and were in use throughout the entire stage C 1. They find their conclusion in form of a rare three-handled variant which most likely is to be dated in stage C2. Button-handles were found almost exclusively in graveyards, whereas the few settlement finds are debatable and pose a questionable point of issue. Contrary to the commonly held view, they did not develop out of angular-handled vessels. The great diversity of the vessels led to reconsideration and review of the possible ways to the thesis that whereby the button-handle vessels serve as supporting evidence and document the idea that they possibly stood in connection to a certain function. Due to the hasty dispersion of the vessels, it seems unlikely that migrating ethnic groups could be held responsible for their appearance. Through analysis, the button-handles were classified into seven groups by means of differentiating details on the handles. Vessels with button-handles are most common in the Prignitz region, in north western Mecklenburg as well as in the eastern Holstein area. It is in Holstein that the number of this vessel type per site is the highest. Wereas, in Prignitz and northwestern Mecklenburg, the numbers are lower but of wider distribution.