LUNULA

IRELAND, 2400-2000 BCE The lunula, which means ‘little moon‘ in Latin, is a piece of gold jewelery that was made in Ireland during the Bronze Age. Clearly the work of a master craftsman, this lunula is likely to have been a highly desirable statement piece but there is precious little that can be pieced together about its significance or wearers.

About a hundred Bronze Age lunulae have been discovered in Ireland and Britain, and about 80 of these were found in Ireland. While the exact historical implication of the lunulae remains shrouded in mystery, what is known is that decorative gold items in prehistoric societies around the world tend to mark the rise of an elite social class. Interestingly enough, there is no archaeological evidence that shows the existence of palaces or cities in Bronze Age Britain and Ireland, so it is virtually impossible to determine the social structure of that era.