150 to 50 BCE
During excavations at the Gaulish village of Varennes-lès-Mâcon, a series of metal specimens were collected, which throw light on various aspects of daily life.
Made with iron ingots, the specimens included tools, weapons and decorative objects. The fibulae are brooches or pins used to fasten clothing. Their shapes are characteristic of models commonly used in the late second century BCE. The small items made of copper alloys are jewellery and accessories, including a belt buckle, rings and a pair of tweezers. The wheel made of electrum is a decorative object with great symbolic value. The hooks illustrate the importance of fishing, a food source made possible by the nearby river Saône.