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Description: | A copper-alloy finger ring with gilded and incised decoration.The ring is of 'D-shaped' section, the width and thickness gradually increasing from the back of the hoop to the bezel. At the centre of the bezel is an oval setting containing an unidentified black substance with areas of white 'crust'. Both shoulders are decorated with an incised triquetra motif: three interlinked pointed ovals. On one side of the ring, the central pointed oval is particularly well executed, extending to beyond halfway along the hoop, its inner space incised to resemble a feather. The remaining portions of the two side ovals - both are truncated by the central one - are incised with a series of oblique grooves. On the other side of the ring the interlace motif is shorter, but the same method of infill has been applied. At the distal end of both incised designs, there is what is probably a stylistically rendered, forward-facing, moulded zoomorphic head. The better preserved head has two small oval depressions, laid end-to-end, which may represent either eyes or ears. The back of the hoop has suffered badly from corrosion, obscuring any pattern. The ring retains much gilding, both on its outer and inner surfaces.Dimensions: 29.8mm deep (bezel to back of hoop), 29.3mm wide, 16.5mm high at bezel. Weight: 19.8g.The shape of this ring, with its wide bezel, oval setting and gradually tapering shoulders, is typically Roman (see Johns 1996: 42-44). Kevin Leahy (pers. comm.) believes the ring to be Roman in date, comparing it to treasure case 2003 T264, a 3rd century ring from Towcester, Northamptonshire (TAR 2003: 50, no. 48). Helen Geake, however, suggests that the possible zoomorphic mouldings and triquetra design are consistent with a Late Early-Medieval date. Parallels for the triquetra include a weight - apparently unstratified - found in Mildenhall, Suffolk, which also bears the same obliquely grooved infill as the piece recorded here (West 1998: 85/fig. 117, no. 7). The triquetra design can also be seen on PAS records SWYOR-3ED3FO, a mount of suggested mid 7th to mid 9th century, found at Sessay, North Yorkshire; and on NMS-C0FEF6, an 8th century pin head from West Rudham, Norfolk. In anticipation of further research, a Roman to Early-Medieval date is recorded for this ring.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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