Detailed Germanic Workmanship in Gold, ca.600:
Geometric Design of a Buckle

There is a certain beauty to Germanic Jewelry, but also a primitive simplicity -- traits that contributed to both the destruction of Roman political order and to the creation of the Medieval World.

The fierceness of Germanic invaders can be seen in this carving of the prow of a Germanic raiding boat. Their weapons (more) tell a silent but deadly story, while their jewelry -- brooches, buckles and rings show that these people were coming with some gounding in creativity, art, aesthetics as well as wealth. The Find at Sutton Hoo turned up many more such artifacts.