Report for H M Coroner on find of Potential Treasure from Frodesley, Shropshire (2019 T6)

Iron Age Gold Finger Ring

PAS Database number: WAW-E89F0E

Date: Iron Age c.400 – 200 BC

Discovery:  whilst metal detecting.

Description:

A gold finger ring whose hoop is slender and circular in section. In plan it is a sub-lozenge with rounded corners as two sides have been bent towards each other forming a V-shape in profile. When on the finger the ring forms a zig-zag.

Dimensions:

15.79mm across, 15.25mm wide, 11.71mm deep, the hoop is 1.05mm thick and it weighs 0.71g.

Metallurgical analysis:

Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the ring was carried out by the Science team at the British Museum. This indicated a surface composition of approximately 85-87% gold, 8-10% silver, with the rest being copper.

Discussion:

The form of this ring resembles V-shaped finger ring of Iron Age type. A growing number of these have been found in the UK. This object type is more commonly found in continental Europe, particularly Switzerland, and dates from around 400 to 200 BC  (Cunliffe 2005, 470). The examples found in Britain could be either continental imports or local versions in a similar style.

Five other examples are known from Britain (Joy 2014, 150): a silver piece from Park Brow,  Sompting, West Sussex (BM 1926,0313.12), one definite gold example from Biggleswade (BM  2011,8016.1; 2009 T671), and two other possible gold examples from Yoxall (WMID-BCA708)  and Market Rasen (BM 1998,0201.1). These previous finds are around 3g, and have a higher silver content (20-30%). A recent find from Chislet in Kent (2016 T537; BM 2018,8003.1) is most likely a more substantial version of the same design (weighing around 8g).

The very thin wire, light weight, and unusually low silver levels of this find are not directly comparable to most of the known Iron Age V-shaped rings, but an Iron Age date is possible. The composition is most similar to the unusual example from Chislet in Kent, which also shows unusually low levels of silver.

Conclusion:

The age and precious metal content of this ring meet the criteria for Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act 1996.

References:

Cunliffe, B.,  2005. Iron Age communities in Britain: an account of England, Scotland and Wales  from the seventh century BC until the Roman Conquest (4th Edition), Routledge, London.

Joy, J., 2014. Connections and separation? Narratives of Iron Age art in Britain and its  relationships with the Continent, in Continental Connections: Exploring Cross–Channel  Relationships from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age, (eds H. Anderson-Whymark, D. Garrow and  F. Sturt), Oxbow Books, Oxford, 145–165.

Authors:

Angie Bolton, Senior Finds Liaison Officer

Julia Farley, Curator of British Museum Iron Age collections