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RING
Unique ID: WILT-091140
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A copper alloy possible horse harness ring of Bronze Age to Roman date (c. 1000 BC - AD 410). The ring measures 20.14mm in diameter (internal diameter 7.43mm), is 6.24mm thick and weighs 9.31g. It is circular in shape with a defined circumferential ridge running around the centre and flattened faces above and below. The interior surface also features a defined circumferential ridge, creating a hexagonal cross section. The interior surface exhibits scratch or wear marks which appear to have occured during use. The ring has a pitted dark brown patina with patches of green.
Similar rings have been discovered in a number of Bronze Age hoards and have been suggested as horse harness fittings, as being part of the handles of a sheet-metal cauldron of Class A1 (Type Tul-na-cross) and Class B1 (Types Llyn Fawr, Ballyshannon and Castlederg) (Gerloff 2010, Pl. 17, 7b; Pl.32, 14a; Pl. 33, 14f-h; Pl. 34, 15d, Pl. 54, 33c and Pl. 66, 37g)., or part of a chain from which a cauldron or other vessel was suspended over a fire.
Cf. WILT-9439A7 for a similar example on the database.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa 1000 BC
Date to: Circa AD 410
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 6.24 mm
Weight: 9.31 g
Diameter: 20.14 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 7th March 2012
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SSWM 4381 185b
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Salisbury
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerloff, S. | 2010 | Atlantic cauldrons and buckets. Studies in typology, origin and function of multi-sheet vessels of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age in Western Europe. With a contribution on their construction and metallurgy by P. Northover. | Stuttgart | Uncertain |
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Timeline of associated dates
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