RIBBON

Treasure case 2017 T882;

Description: Bead possibly formed from a fragment of a gold band or ribbon dating to the Bronze Age (c. 2200-800 BC). The fragment is a short length of a straight, parallel sided strip with both ends bent back on themselves so the ends meet, probably originally making a cylindrical bead. This has then been squashed flat. The back (interior) is plain and the front is decorated with 20 regularly spaced parallel ribs, and 18 grooves between them, running along the entire length of the fragment.

Dimensions: The fragment now measures 9.6mm long, is 13.8mm wide and 1.9mm thick with the single thickness of the strip being 0.3mm; it weighs 0.63g with some mud still inside.

Discussion: The linear decoration of the strip can be paralleled on a number of gold strips and 'ribbons' of known and very probable Bronze Age date including examples from The Hamel, Oxfordshire (Case 1980; Palmer 1980); Corringham, Lincolnshire (2011 T459); Sproxton, North Yorkshire (2010 T664); Hook, Hampshire (2014 T777), Sherborne St John, Hampshire (2013 T154), Flixton, North Yorkshire (2003 T40a&b); Ansley, Warwickshire (2007 T672); and Tendring District, Essex (2012 T577). The dimensions and weights of the bands are also comparable. The find from The Hamel, Oxfordshire, came from the same layer as typologically late Beaker pottery dating to the Early Bronze Age.

Several similar pieces have also been found bent into cylindrical beads and it is unclear if this was their original purpose or if this was a common reuse for parts of larger ribbon ornaments. A necklace of beads from Ireland is in the British Museum (BM 1853,0926.2) is similar but the beads are much more tightly wound cylinders. Parallels in Bronze Final individual burial cremation contexts throughout France as at Uffheim, Haut-Rhin (Eluère 1982, 30, fig 25, no. 3) and Courtavant (Eluère 1982, 30, fig 25, no. 2) suggest a Late Bronze Age date (c. 1100-800 BC). The bead is classified as a perle tubulaires cannelées (see Eluère 1982, 30-31, 168-171). Other examples in Britain include examples from Glemsford, Suffolk (2010 T590), Cavendish, Suffolk (2011 T825), (Lanehame, Nottinghamshire (2012 T926), Much Wenlock, Shropshire (2017 T42) and possibly Coberley, Gloucestershire (2012 T382) although the hole through that example is more akin to those on 'ribbons'

Conclusion: As the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal and was over 300 years old at the time of finding it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Laura Burnett
Finds Liaison Officer for Devon and Somerset
November 2017