Rights Holder: Colchester Treasure Hunting
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Unique ID: ESS-9CB5B8
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
The ring consists of a gold sheet bezel of elongated lozenge-shape, which has been drawn into wires at each end. The ends of the wires are hooked, showing that they would originally have been twisted together, but the ring has been slightly flattened and the ends have sprung apart. The bezel has an internally toothed bordering groove, within which it is punch decorated above and below a short median ridge with two rows of single-pelleted, apex-to-apex triangles becoming two single triangles at the ends of the ridge, while groups of two or three triangles are squeezed into the narrow triangular shoulders beyond them. Length, 23.7mm; width, 10.4mm (max); weight, 2.0g.
A gold ring of similar, though more ovoid, form from Beachamwell, Norfolk, was reported as Treasure in 2004 (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 86, where further parallels are noted). A narrower version from Whorlton, North Yorkshire, and a fragment of another, both also in gold, were reported in 2012 (2012/T497 - PAS SWYOR-56EA98; and 2012/T62 - PAS NMS-D7AC68) and a silver ring of the form from Wood Enderby, Lincolnshire, in 2011 (2011/T76; PAS NCL-90DD85). A number of related rings in non-precious metal are recorded on the database of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and for the type, see J. Graham-Campbell, 2011 (The Cuerdale Hoard and related Viking-Age silver and gold from Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London, British Museum Press, 104-106). They date from the late 9th - 10th century.
Notes:
The ring from Tendring district would therefore qualify as Treasure under two of the stipulated criteria of the Treasure Act: it is more than 300 years old and the precious metal content exceeds 10%.
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted for consideration as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2014T939
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 800
Date to: Circa AD 1000
Quantity: 1
Length: 23.7 mm
Width: 10.4 mm
Weight: 2 g
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Treasure case number: 2014T939
No references cited so far.