FINGER RING

Treasure Number: 2016 T146

Find Spot: Stoulton

PAS Database number: WAW-0C7587

Period: Early Medieval

Date of Discovery: 1985-1989

Circumstances of discovery: Metal detected find.

Description: The finger ring is composed of two tapering, square-sectioned rods which are twisted, slightly irregularly, together. Each rod is at its thickest at the 'bezel' portion of the finger ring and on the outer face at this section, one rod has a deep transverse V-shaped notch. The hoop on the inner portion, opposite the 'bezel', has a gap. It appears that the terminals of the two rods are not co-joined to each other forming a loop, instead they form a penannular loop which is possibly intentional. Each terminal has one rod which has been slightly coiled and flattened to form an edge.

The surface of the finger ring is in good condition with no tarnishing or corrosion and is a bright, shiny yellow colour indicating it is made with a high gold content.

Dimensions:

Length: 26.57mm from the exterior of the bezel to the exterior of the rod terminals and 17.2mm on the interior.

Width: 27.11mm on the exterior and 20.88mm on the interior.

Thickness: 4.99mm at the bezel.

Weight: 7.7g.

Discussion: Gold finger rings with twisted rods are found in the UK and Scandinavia, are dated from the late Early Medieval to early Medieval periods, (late 9^th to 12^th centuries) and can be associated with or influenced by the Vikings.

Similar finger rings have been reported through the Treasure Act (1996); 2013 T581 from Long Newnton Gloucestershire, 2003 T409 from the Bexhill area, East Sussex, and in the British Museum collections there are similar examples, such as 1853.0412.71, also from East Sussex and has been published by Graham-Campbell (2011). Barry Ager (British Museum) comments in the report of 2003 T409 that two-stranded, square-sectioned twisted finger rings could be a local form.

Scholarly opinion is divided on whether individual high-status objects are likely to have been deliberately deposited without intent to recover, for example votive offerings; deliberately deposited with intent to recover; stored for safety in time of emergency; or lost by chance. An object as small as a finger ring might easily be a chance loss and not buried intentionally.

References:

Ager, Barry, 2004 'Bexhill area, East Sussex: Viking Period Gold Finger Ring (2003 T409)' Treasure Annual Report 2003 DCMS

Graham-Campbell, J., 2011, The Cuerdale Hoard and related Viking-Age silver and gold from Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London: British Museum Press.