Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: PAS-817076
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Description
Decorative gold ring with a large circular bezel (diameter 7mm), set with a small uncut (cabochon) blue stone, probably a sapphire. There is a small transverse ridge on each side of the bezel at the junction with the hoop, and the underside of the bezel is chamfered. The hoop is slightly misshapen, but may have had an original internal hoop diameter of 18-20mm (external diameter 22-23mm). It has a flattened oval cross-section, and expands slightly towards the bezel. Weight 2.69g.
The finger ring from Llanharry has a form typical of a 12th or 13th century date (cf. Treasure Annual Report 1998-1999, no. 107 from South Kyme, Lincolnshire; Treasure Annual Report 2000, no. 91 from Brenzett, Kent, dated to the 13th century).
Metal Content
To judge from its colour and weight, and visual comparison with other gold rings and brooches in the collections of the Department of Archaeology & Numismatics, the item is gold (over 10%). This was confirmed by analysis of the metal composition of the ring by Mary Davis using CamScan MaXim 2040 analytical scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX).
Summary and conclusions
The ring is of 13th-century date. Over the last 10 years, members of the Department of Archaeology & Numismatics have been able to record a number of medieval finger rings from South Wales. As with the other finds, the loss of this ring probably represents accidental loss.
Notes:
It is my opinion that as an object which has at least 10 per cent by weight precious metal, and which is at least 300 years old, the ring is treasure under Section 1 (1) (a) of the Treasure Act 1996.
Dr M Redknap
Curator of Medieval & Later Archaeology
Dept. of Archaeology & Numismatics
National Museums & Galleries of Wales
Current location of find: National Museums & Galleries of Wales.
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2003W9
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Weight: 2.69 g
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 21st May 2003
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Other reference: Wales 03.9
Treasure case number: 2003W9
4 Figure: ST0080
Four figure Latitude: 51.5100489
Four figure longitude: -3.44235896
1:25K map: ST0080
1:10K map: ST08SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.