Holy Medals with Secondary Holes as Examples of the Recycling of Historical Devotional Objects

Abstract

Holy medals belong to a group of historical artefacts known as devotional objects and they appear in this category beside crosses, scapulars or prayer beads. They are regarded as miniature forms of large medals and are seldom made of noble metals, but rather corrosion resistant alloys. Medals occur the most often in an oval form, with a separated loop for hanging, but there are also circular, rectangular or octagonal forms. The work below is an attempt to study a special form of medals – perforated secondarily – as a historical form of recycling. Such a treatment led them to be regarded as retrieved objects, retaining their original function. Studying the manufacturing features of these objects allows us to distinguish between original and secondary perforations. The latter were made when the original eye was broken or lost. The intentions of persons who decided to recycle devotional objects for material, spiritual or mystic reasons are an important part of this paper. The article is based on studies of artefacts obtained during archaeological excavations at sites in Gniew in Pomerania (Poland) and Dubno in Volhynia (Ukraine).