Manufacture of bird-shaped fibulae in the late-antique fortification of Sokol in Konavle

Sa？etak Manufacturing rejects in the form of plastically rendered bird-shaped fibula were found in the Sokol fortification in Konavle. Such fibulae used to be widespread on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, especially in Herzegovina, where they were brought from the Sokol workshop by way of ancient roads. They were made in two-piece moulds with wider funnel opening for pouring of liquid metal. In addition to bronze fibulae, silver ones were also produced, as demonstrated by the find from Ljuta in Konavle. The authors would like to point out the unearthed funnel-shaped bronze pieces rejected during the manufacture of jewellery in moulds. They are a sure proof of workshop activities. Plastically rendered birdshaped fibulae were popular among the Christian population. They were often part of the context of early-Christian necropolises in the periodfrom the fifth to the seventh century