Rare Bronze Age ring find

Submitted by PaulM on Thursday, 03 February 2005 Page Views: 1215

**The Long Stone (IOW)** submitted by PaulM : The Long Stone megaliths viewed from the SW taking in the view across Brighstone Down. Fantastic site with good views - easy walk with free National Trust parking. (Vote or comment on this photo)

A crumpled piece of metal found in a field in the Newchurch parish turned out to be an extremely rare Bronze Age decorative ring of national importance.

A treasure trove inquest was told how it was unearthed by illustrator Alan Rowe, of Alvington Road, Carisbrooke, while out metal detecting last summer.

Experts believe the ring, known as a composite ring and which comprises of three ribs fused together, may have hung from a twisted torc worn around the neck or from a bracelet.

Frank Basford, county archaeologist, said the piece, which weighs 3.57 grams and is 82 per cent gold, probably dated back to the middle Bronze Age period, making it around 3,500 years old.

"There is very little Bronze Age gold work around, making this a very significant and important find in a national and Island context," he said.

This is not the first time Mr Rowe has hit the jackpot. In 1998 he stumbled upon a previously unrecorded Iron Age and Roman settlement in the East Wight.

More than 500 coins were found, including five extremely rare silver quarter staters, an eagle depicted on each, which may be coinage unique to the IW.

"That was my find of a lifetime and I never in a million years expected to do it again but then I came across this little ring," said Mr Rowe.

"It might only be small but to find something so old was thrilling. At first I thought it was a ring for the finger but it has since been identified as a composite ring."

Island coroner John Matthews declared the ring treasure following last week's inquest.
The treasury valuation committee at the British Museum will set a value on the item and Newport's Guildhall Museum has already expressed a wish to buy it.

Source: Isle of Wight County Press 3 February 2005

Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

<< Cliffs End Farm Bronze Age burial online exhibition

News

Vietnamese archaeologists find ancient musical instruments >>