Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: BERK-86EB19
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) spiral finger ring dating to 9th-11th century AD. The ring is formed from a spiral band with overlapping pointed terminals. One terminal is broken or worn. The ring is D-shaped in cross-section. There is a gap where the spiral overlaps. The ring has a dark green patina
The finger ring is 21.2mm in diameter, 6.3mm maximum thickness, and weighs 3.72g
Similar finger rings can be found in MacGregor and Bolick 1993, page 169-171, more specifically number 27.11, where the suggested date is 5th to 6th century for this style of finger ring, which appears to be a development of earlier Romano-British styles.
Other similar types of figner rings on the database include: SF-93DDE8, BERK-9AAF46, WILT-70C7A4, SF-18E973, SF-EAAC68, SF-323CC3, and SF-07FB63.
A recent dissertation on Anglo-Saxon finger rings by Catherine Johnson illustrates that these more simple base-metal rings are attributed to an Anglicised adaptation of silver single-rod rings in Scandinavia. It also coincides with a relative decrease of prestigious rings and precious metals in the 10th century, and an increase in the use of base metals (Hinton 1975, 177). They represent a more common fashion of late Anglo-Saxon attire. (Catherine Johnshon, May 2019 pers.comm)
This is a find of note and has been designated: Regional importance
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 1066
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 6.3 mm
Weight: 3.72 g
Diameter: 21.2 mm
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: 0021
4 Figure: SU4233
Four figure Latitude: 51.09477731
Four figure longitude: -1.40162025
1:25K map: SU4233
1:10K map: SU43SW
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MacGregor, A. and Bolick, E. | 1993 | A summary catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon collections (non-ferrous metals), Ashmolean Museum, Oxford | Oxford | Tempvs Reparatum | Page 171 |