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PENANNULAR RING
Unique ID: SUSS-63B7A6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
British Museum Specialist Report:
Description: A Bronze Age oval-shaped penannular, gold composite ring comprising three sections of oval-sectioned gold rod, probably soldered together. The gold is light coloured and in overall good condition with a few small dents and stratches on its surface.
Diameter: 13.72mm x 14.67mm ; Width: 5.11-5.28mm ; Thickness of rods: 1.63-1.76mm ; Weight: 4.4g
Discussion: This is a well-known type of the Middle Bronze Age, showing similarities to a tripartite, gold composite ring found near Stone, Buckinghamshire (PAS: BUC-9754C7; Treasure: 2007 T118; PAS Annual Report 2007, No. 37 (pg. 47)), which has been dated to the Middle Bronze Age (c.1300-1100 BC). Although small, penannular rings are amongst the most common items of gold to survive from the British Bronze Age, they remain one of the most problematic classes of prehistoric artefacts as they generally lack good contexts or associations with other classes of metalwork, making them difficult to date accurately (Meeks, Craddock, & Needham 2008: 13). Their appearance in Britain most likely coincides with the beginning of the 'Ornament Horizon' (c. 1400-1100 BC), a new tradition of gold ornaments which coincides with the early Taunton to the later Penard metalwork phases for England and Wales (Roberts 2007: 7). This ring, therefore, can be generally dated to the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1400-1140 BC).
Notes:
Conclusion: The hoard fulfils the requirements for being considered Treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act (2002 Amendment).
References
Meeks, Nigel D., Craddock, Paul T., & Needham, Stuart P., 2008. "Bronze Age Penannular Gold Rings from the British Isles: Technology and Composition". Jewellery Studies 11: 13-30.
Portable Antiquities and Treasure (PAS), 2007. Annual Report 2007. London: British Museum.
Roberts, B., 2007. "Adorning the Living but Not the Dead: Understanding Ornaments in Britain c. 1400-1100 cal BC". Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 73: 1-32.
Class: multiple strand
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T165
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1300 BC
Date to: Circa 1150 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Weight: 4.4 g
Rally details.
This object was found at Stagsden 7-Day Rally
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2012T165
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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