Bronze Age bracelets, bangles and armlets were worn constantly on the wrists and around the arms of both men and women. They were used as a status symbol as well as to identify the wearer. The Celtic spiral, as seen in the above item, is a dynamic and popular symbol. It is indicative of endless movement, and was in use from the Neolithic period (c. 5000 BC). Bronze craftsmen continued to use the pattern during the Bronze Age, though more flamboyant and flatter spiral patterns were favoured.
To discover more about spirals in Celtic culture, please visit our relevant blog post: The Symbolism of the Spiral in Celtic Imagery.
