FINGER RING

Report on potential Treasure for H M Coroner

Treasure Number:2017T512

Find Spot: 'Westward Area', Cumbria

PAS Database number: LANCUM-11E919

Period: Roman, late 2^nd-3^rd century

Museum interest: Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport

Description:

A complete silver Roman finger ring with a blue intaglio made of nicolo glass. The hoop is oval with wide shoulders and a slightly flattened bezel that is ovoid in profile. The hoop has a D-shaped cross section with a slightly raised crest around the outer circumference. The surface is rough to the touch and in poor condition, but where the finder accidentally damaged the surface, the original silver shines through.

The oval intaglio measures 10mm long and 9mm wide and stands slightly proud of the hoop. The nicolo glass appears to be of blue or blueish-green colour. It has lightly convex upper surface with sides sloping outwards towards the bezel. It depicts the god Mercury, seated upon a rock and supporting himself with one hand and holding a staff surely intended for a caduceus in the other.

Discussion:

The ring is of Henig's type V (2007), a type dated to the late second to early third century AD. Thre are very good parallels from the Roman sites of Colchester and Housesteads vicus (Henig 2007, nos.65 and 66, pl.iii; Arch Ael XI (1934) pl.xxixb no.2 cf p.202 no.37). Furthermore, there are parallels from the Continent from Carnuntumand Trier (Dembski 2005, 73; pl. 20, nos. 204+205; Henkel 1913, 113, no.1240, pl xlviii (= pl.lxxviii no.319)). This is a variant on the standard common seated Mercury type (Henig 2007, nos 56-63).

Similar finger rings on the database were recorded from Bishop Auckland, County Durham (DUR-BDFBB4/2014T443) and Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire (BUC-466EB5).

References:

Henig, M. 2007. A corpus of engraved gemstones from Romano-British sites. BAR 8, 3^rd edition. Oxford, Archaeopress.

Guiraud, H. 1988, 2003. Intailles et camées de l'époque romaine en gaule (Territoire français). 48th supplement to Gallia. Paris, CNRS.

Dembski, G. 2005. Die Antiken Gemmen und Kameen aus Carnuntum (Vienna 2005).
F.Henkel 1913. Die römischen Fingerringe der Rheinlande. Berlin.

Dimensions:

Length: 21 mm
Height: 15.5 mm
Width: 19 mm
Weight: 8.12 g

Conclusion: Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Authors

Dr Dot Boughton, FLO (Cumbria/Lancashire)

Dr Martin Henig (Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford)