FINGER RING

A copper alloy penannular finger ring decorated with snake head terminals of Roman date (100-300 AD). The hoop of the finger ring is broken at the back of the hoop, suggesting that the snake head terminals are fused together (possibly soldered or more likely cast in one piece). The hoop is broadly sub-circular (slightly oval) in plan and D shaped in cross section. The hoop is regular in thickness but expands in width from the thinnest part (at the reverse of the hoop) to the relatively wide snakehead terminals. The hoop of the ring in plan measures 22.3mm length, 23.1mm width; it is 3mm high and is 2.4mm thick. The ring expands to a width of 9.2mm at the snake head and 4.5mm thickness. The internal diameter of the ring is 17.5mm. The ring weighs 3.6 grams. The two snake head terminals are rendered in three dimensions having relatively pointed (wedge shaped) heads that overlap and conjoin - so that the two heads are joined opposite cheek-to-cheek. The heads expand from a relatively narrow body, at the junction between the body and head is a distinct circumferential collar. A distinct sunken cast ridge divides the head of each snake into two parts and this seems to be decorated with a series of pellets forming a rope-like border. The eyes and mouth of each snake are shown. The body (outer hoop) of the snake also seems to have been decorated with diagonal banding of pellets, presumably representing skin. The ring is a mid grey green colour with a well developed but abraded patina which covers the majority of the artefact. The edges of the ring have been abraded and are smooth, although the damage is not extensive and the decoration can still be seen. A light white grey colour surface corrosion product is also present, whether this is as a result of burial environment is uncertain.

Similar snake-headed rings can be seen in Johns 1997 (Snettisham Roman Jewellers hoard) 35-37. This style of ring can be sub-classified using her system as a type Bi. The hoard at Snettisham is dated by the coin evidence as being deposited 154-5 AD, however the style of finger-ring is relatively long lived. As such it is likely that this example dates from the second - early fourth century AD (100-300 AD)