Rights Holder: West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service
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Unique ID: SWYOR-56EA98
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Description: An Early Medieval (Viking) gold finger ring dating from the late 9th-10th century. It is made from a strip of gold which tapers to wire terminals which are wound around each other at the back of the hoop. The bezel of the ring is the widest part of the strip, and is an elongated lozenge. The outer surface of the strip is decorated with four punched triple-pelleted triangles (or shield shapes) in the centre, and a row of three similar punches along each shoulder. The sides and back of the ring have been bent and distorted. The terminals are about 2mm in diameter. In its current shape, the ring is 20.9mm long, 14.46mm wide and 6.67mm thick. The centre of the bezel is 6.67 from one side of the strip to the other, and the strip is 0.57mm thick. The ring is substantially gold.
Discussion: A similar example is DENO-9A6C17 (2007 T254). The report for DENO-9A6C17 notes that: "Both the form of the ring and the punched decoration are typical of Viking jewellery of the late 9th-10th centuries AD and a punch-decorated gold ring of broadly similar form has been found at Thetford (see discussion of the gold ring from Beachamwell, Norfolk in the DCMS Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 86). Triple-pelleted triangles were used on a Viking silver ring from Moreton Bagot, Warwickshire (DCMS Treasure Annual Report 2002, no. 53)." Similar stamped triangles were also found on items in the Vale of York Hoard.
This object is more than 300 years old and more than 10% gold or silver, and it therefore meets the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.
Dimensions: Length: 20.9mm; Width: 14.46mm; Thickness: 6.67mm; Weight: 1.47g
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted for consideration as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T497
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Viking style
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 1000
Quantity: 1
Length: 20.9 mm
Width: 14.46 mm
Thickness: 6.67 mm
Weight: 1.47 g
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 1st April 2011 - Saturday 30th April 2011
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Other reference: PAS receipt number 1909
Treasure case number: 2012T497
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.