FINGER RING

REPORT FOR HM CORONER
Potential find of Treasure: Viking silver ring from Kings Newnham, Warwickshire

Ref.: 2011 T35

(Rec. no. 7421)

Surface metal analysis conducted at the British Museum indicated an approximate silver content for the ring of 92%, with at least 6% copper and detectable amounts of lead and gold; it weighs 1.96 grams.

The ring is made from a lozenge-sectioned rod of silver with the ends overlapping by about 15 mm and the tapered tips each twisted once round the hoop; diameter (max) 17 mm.

Two rings of similar form, but of different sizes, were found in 2004 in a grave excavated at the Viking cemetery at Cumwhitton, Cumbria (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 90). But it is uncertain whether the small versions like Kings Newnham were made to be worn on the finger. Plain wire rings of this type (although usually of round section) are frequently found strung onto Viking bracelets dating to the late 9th and 10th centuries, e.g. from Gotland, Sweden (M. Stenberger, 1958, Die Schatzfunde Gotlands der Wikingerzeit, Stockholm, pls. 176, 4; 181, 5; 186, 11-12). Ten such rings were suspended on a bracelet from Vålse, Denmark and a ring of narrow strip rather than wire is on another from the great hoard of Viking silver found at Cuerdale, Lancashire, which was deposited around AD 905-910 (E. Hawkins, 1847, 'An account of coins and treasure found in Cuerdale', Archaeological Journal, vol. 4, pp. 111 - 130, fig. 54). Such rings could also be used to link items of jewellery, e.g. to hang strings of beads, etc., between a pair of brooches; and a pair of rings made of narrow bands of silver with the ends twisted together from the Viking-period cemetery at Fyrkat, grave 4, Denmark, have been identified as toe-rings (J. Graham-Campbell, 1980, Viking Artefacts: a select catalogue, London, no. 241). A similar, although much smaller, silver wire ring from the grave may have served to suspend a pendant (E. Roesdahl, 1977, Fyrkat. En jysk vikingeborg, II. Oldsagerne og Gravpladsen, Copenhagen, p. 140, fig. 139b).

The ring from Kings Newnham would therefore qualify as Treasure under two of the stipulated criteria of the Treasure Act: it is more than 300 years old and the precious metal content exceeds 10%.

The object is not disclaimed at either a local or a national level, since Rugby Museum has expressed an interest in acquiring it and the British Museum would attempt to do so should local efforts fail.

B.M. Ager

Curator
Department of Prehistory & Europe
British Museum

21/9/2011