Garnets in Early Medieval Jewellery with Cloisonné Decoration in Italy

The areas of garnet-bearing rock in Italy have not yet been considered as possible sources of garnet-gemstones for early medieval jewellery. However, the fact that several sites were used to extract raw materials for a successful commercial production outside the valleys (for instance, soapstone) may encourage studies involving crystals from various sites in the southern Alpine region and artefacts decorated with garnets, probably made within a Lombard cultural context. When compared with the results of current international research, the findings could provide useful information about the provenance and circulation of these gemstones in Italy during the period in question with important social, commercial, and economic implications. This represents the main aim of our research project.