FINGER RING

A medieval gold finger-ring set with a large opaque brown stone within a 7-cusped setting. Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence of the surface of the ring indicated a composition of 69-71% gold and 18-20% silver, the remainder being copper.

The exposed surface of the stone has a slightly worn appearance and it has not been possible to identify any characteristic features by optical examination, or to identify the stone unequivocally using non-destructive analytical methods. However, X-ray fluorescence shows the presence of large quantities of calcium, phosphorus and strontium, the proportions of which are similar to those found in skeletal elements, such as bone or ivory, and it seems probable that the material is biological in origin, possibly a bezoar. These are concretions generally found in the stomachs of ruminative animals and were considered antidotes to poison from around the 13th century onwards. The composition of such stones is variable but they are usually mixtures of grass, hair and calcium salts.

A parallel count be found in Thame Hoard Scarisbrick and Henig Plate 13 no.1 21.7

The external diameter, 5.6mm wide 1.6mm thick, bezel 16.2mm in diameter, stone 14.9mm, bezel and stone 8.1mm thick, 13.98 grams.