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PENANNULAR RING
Unique ID: NMGW-460555
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A copper alloy penannular ring or ring core of probable Bronze Age date (c. 1300-800BC). The ring is made from a circular sectioned loop. The original surface is missing, and green and brown copper corrosion products cover the ring. The blue corrosion product is likely azurite. Objects such as this are often termed “ring money” or “hair rings” but are most likely a form of personal adornment worn on the nose or ears. Typically dated to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, it is suggested in NMGW-04216C that they in fact originate in the Middle bronze age and continue in use until the end of the Bronze Age. This means a wider date range of c. 1300-800BC must be given for this object.
It is possible that this object is a core onto which sheet gold or gold/silver alloy would have been fixed. The XRF results may support this as a trace quantity of gold and silver was detected.
The finder was kind enough to take an XRF scan of this object. While this will not give precise readings of the metal composition it does give indication as to the elements present. The results were: Cu 42%; Sn 42%; Si 7%; Pb 3%; Au + Ag 0.4%
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1300 BC
Date to: Circa 800 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 6.5 mm
Weight: 7.82 g
Diameter: 18.8 mm
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: NMWPA 2020.26.11
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Uncertain
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Winterbourne Bassett (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU1175
Four figure Latitude: 51.47385782
Four figure longitude: -1.84301396
1:25K map: SU1175
1:10K map: SU17NW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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