Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas (GWZO), Leipzig, Germany

Impressively decorated shield fibulae (Ger. Sehieldfibeln), used from phase C2 until phase C2/C3), belong to the most elaborated metal artifacts from the Late Roman Iron Age. They have been used by communities living in Scandinavia, on the Elbe lowlands as well as by society of the Dębczyno group in Pomerania and the Cecele phase of the Wielbark culture. The paper is an attempt of a thorough chronological analysis of these fibulae from the Dębczyno group along with the burial assemblages in which they had been found. It is suggested that these adornments were an element of the women dress decoration as they have been found mostly in rich burials. It is argued that presence of the shield fibulae on this territory is indicative of wide contacts of the Late Roman Iron Age elite with Scandinavia and the Elbe lowland region.