2024-03-28T21:56:18+00:00https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/jsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/xmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/rsshttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/atomhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/kmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/geojsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/qrcodehttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results4120finds-11147401114740SF-70ECF8PENANNULAR RINGBRONZE AGEA complete Middle Bronze Age gold tripartite penannular ring dating to circa 1300-1150 BC. It is C-shaped in plan comprised of three circular-sectioned penannular rings soldered together. The terminals are of an inconsistent width, creating an oblique aperture.
Diameter: 14.2mm; Width: 6.4mm; Thickness: 1.3mm; Weight: 3.38g.
Discussion: The form is consistent with other examples processed through the Treasure Act including 2021 T762 (Gard 2021) and 2012 T165 (Smith 2012) each of which is dated to the Middle Bronze Age.
Meeks et. al. (2008, 13) note that “although small, penannular rings are amongst the most common items of gold to survive from the British Bronze Age, they remain one of the most problematic classes of prehistoric artefacts as they generally lack good contexts or associations with other classes of metalwork, making them difficult to date accurately”. These penannular rings also take several forms with those that are thicker than this example (such as OXON-FFD016, 2020 T77) given a date belonging to the Ewart Park phase of the Late Bronze Age, between 1000-800 cal BC based on burials in Belgium, northeast France and the Netherlands and secondly, Scottish and Irish hoard associations (e.g. Eogan 1997).
However, this multibed form made of relatively narrow cords has parallels found in at least three Middle Bronze Age contexts. The first, the Burton Hoard (PAS-5B1745 – Welsh Treasure case 04:02), includes a composite gold penannular ring formed from three round-sectioned wires which have been fused together, with simple clipped or cut terminals. The Cirencester Hoard (BM-28B710 – 2004 T416) includes two double penannular rings and a fragment of a third. Finally, the Granta Fen hoard (British Museum Accession No. 1884,0520) includes several multistranded penannular rings looped around a gold bracelet which was found with an incomplete rapier. Each of these hoards have been dated to the Middle Bronze Age (c1300-1150 BC) based on the range of chronologically diagnostic artefacts within them which would suggest this form may be dated to this period although a Late Bronze Age date should not be excluded.
The appearance of these is then associated with the onset of the Bronze Age ‘ornament horizon’ dating to circa 1400-1100 BC, congruent with the Taunton to Penard metalwork phases of the Bronze Age (Roberts 2007: 7).multiple strand131322-1300-115012023T5484SF2023-05-24T00:00:00Z2023-05-31T10:09:35Z2024-03-21T08:52:42Z3.38PAS64770ECF00190514.21.36.41232341159341550415674SuffolkMid SuffolkRestricted AccessNear BedfieldRestricted Accessbands.shops.handy6SF-70F083Gold10892CompleteBRONZE AGEx13712MiddleMiddleBRONZE AGEx13712x13712Metal detectorSubmitted for consideration as Treasure2023_T548_SF70ECF8copy.jpg1236588images/pjh41/Certain12024-03-21T08:52:42.46ZLateSuffolk10CountyBRONZE AGE1LateMetal detectorRMSsf946sf7547.jpg15934200171152451106272001T038BA5.5DistrictCertainSF1550815.5-800Restricted Accessx1371219887Suffolk Coastal108922017-12-05T11:10:42ZReturned to finder3EasternCirca
Gold foil plated ring with silvery gold wire inlaid into the gold foil. The ring has a diameter of 15.5 mm and it is sub-square or sub-circular in cross-section, measuring 5 mm deep and 5 mm wide; the faces are most flattened near to the terminals. The ends of the ring butt right up against each other and are joined by corrosion from the core. A copper-alloy core is suggested by green corrosion products in two places, both on the interior surface of the ring; behind the terminals, and where the gold sheath has cracked on the opposite side from the terminals. Further damage to the gold sheath, on both exterior faces near one terminal, shows the core as light brown; this may be dirt. There are lighter transverse lines on the interior face, apparently petering out close to the terminals. The finished surfaces are not particularly regular, with slight facets that may be hammer marks. The function of penannular rings is unknown; they date mainly to the Late Bronze Age. For other examples from Suffolk, see MNL 132 (two, both solid) and TYN 047 (a single solid banded example).
Gill Varndell of the British Museum has examined this object, and her report (20.02.2002) reads: "A penannular ring of slightly sub-rectangular cross-section, the terminals very close together. The surface is worn, and flattened on both faces near the terminals; there are traces of hammer-marks which give an irregular appearance to the surface. The internal surface has traces of paler gold bandig which has been worn off the external surface. There is green corrosion internally, across both terminals and oposite them; this probably derives from the base metal core (see below). There is damage to the surface near one terminal and a small area of the gold wrapping is absent; there is some lifting of the wrapping especially at the terminal surfaces. The construction is of gold sheet wrapped over a bronze core. Maximum external diameter 15.5mm; maximum internal diameter 6mm; thickness 6mm; weight 6.7g. The object is a well-known Late Bronze Age type, dating to c. 1150-750 BC. The type is decorative in character."
Neil Wilkin123near Woodbridge3SF94637812Gold Foil Plated Ring With Silvery Gold Wire Inlaid Into the Gold Foil1Finder's ref. 324B; Treasure case no. 2001 T38BRONZE AGEPENANNULAR RINGRestricted Accessfinds-3781215.58SF7547-1150x13712images/hgeake/189620013EA16129014A932001-12-05T00:00:00ZCertainx137122001-09-29T23:00:00Z13BRONZE AGEGold41425BA113http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/BRONZE AGECertainCopper alloyCivil Parish2022-07-14T07:06:32.484Zfinds-833714833714SF-6CDBFBPENANNULAR RINGBRONZE AGEA complete but distorted solid gold penannular ring dating to the Middle Bronze Age, c. 1550-1150 BC. It is broadly oval in plan view and plano-convex in section, being formed of three 'D' sectioned bands which have been soldered together, though in places these are starting to come away from one another. The terminals are squared off, but now overlap due to damage.
Date: 1550-1150 BC
Dimensions: The external diameter of the penannular ring is 12.16mm, while the bands have a maximum width of 8.74mm and a maximum thickness of 1.33mm. It weighs 3.68g.
Discussion: Composite penannular rings formed from C-sectioned, D-sectioned or sub-circular strips soldered together are a well known Middle Bronze Age artefact type as single finds or forming part of sets of linked rings that are sometimes found attached to bracelets. For examples of this registered on the PAS database see records NMS-ACBFA4, NMS-A1B392, SF-A6DEC7, PAS-DA09A3, SUSS-63B7A6, LIN-9F2713, LIN-D7E6D1, BERK-A5FFE5 and ESS-CB3683.
The object contains over 10% precious metal and as discussed above is certainly over 300 years old. Consequently, it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.multiple strand131322-1500-115012017T2003SF2017-02-18T00:00:00ZColchester and Ipswich Museums Service2017-03-01T13:33:51Z2024-03-21T09:13:02Z3.68PAS58B6CDBF001C2312.161.33123541141425159341520415508SuffolkSuffolk CoastalRestricted AccessAldeburghRestricted Access10SF-6CE00BGold10892CastCompleteBRONZE AGEx13712MiddleMiddleBRONZE AGEx13712x13712Metal detectorAcquired by museum after being declared TreasureSF6CDBFB.jpg617744images/alexbliss/EasternCertain12024-03-21T09:13:02.624Zfinds-584683584683SF-A6DEC7PENANNULAR RINGBRONZE AGEDescription: A Middle Bronze Age gold composite ring consisting of three penannular solid rods of gold possibly soldered together. Each ring has a circular section.
Dimensions: 12.79mm in external diameter and 7.89mm in internal diameter, 6.65mm in height and 5.65g in weight. Each gold ring is c2.29mm in thickness.
Discussion: This ring is very similar to other examples from elsewhere such as LIN-9F2713,(2011 T580) and SUSS-63B7A6 (2012T165). Similar rings are often found threaded on to gold bracelets, such as those from Granta Fen Cambridgeshire, on twisted torcs, such as those from Boyton, Suffolk and inter-linked with other examples (J. J Taylor, 1980 Bronze Age Goldwork of the British Isles). This may however, be the first example recorded from Bedfordshire.multiple strand131322-1300-1150112013T7303SF2013-10-10T00:00:00ZBedford Museum2013-11-06T16:27:24Z2024-03-21T09:17:35Z5.65PAS527A6DEC001D9012.791235414142543871114043871BedfordBedfordRestricted AccessBolnhurstRestricted Access2634928810SF-A6E4D4Gold10892CompleteBRONZE AGEx13712MiddleMiddleBRONZE AGEx13712x13712Metal detectorAcquired by museum after being declared TreasureBolnhurstSF-A6DEC7.jpg447155images/fminter/EasternCertain12024-03-21T09:17:35.064Z