7.2.2013 Ring with sapphire

The unique sapphire ring was found by Michael Greenhorn of Clifton Moor, York. And in 2009, eight years ago, experts published more information about the jewel. They found that it was apparently made in France.

The craftsman who made the ring used gold and sapphire. He used it to decorate the ring. At the outset, the experts also said that the ring belonged to a king and dates from the tenth century. Then, just eight years ago, they specified that the jewel was much older. It is said to date back as far as the fifth century. They are also certain that it was not owned by a bishop, as they had previously thought.

We also wrote about the ring here: Archaeological News

The ring is 2.5 centimetres in diameter and is made of high quality gold. Michael Greenhorn found it in April 2009 while searching a field near the village of Escrick, south of York. "This is a truly spectacular find. A very bold and beautiful ring with a large sapphire in the centre. No doubt it was made by one of the finest craftsmen in the country for someone with a greatwealth and very high status," said Natalie McCaul, assistant curator at the Yorkshire Museum.

The latter wanted to acquire the ring for its collection from the start. Experts here also planned to examine the jewel in detail to find out what secrets it holds. In addition to the sapphire, the gold ring is decorated with other coloured "glass". Sapphire was most commonly used in the Middle Ages, but on the other hand, the similar gold treatment could mean the ring dates from the Vikings. The combination of gold, red and blue glass is again a typical English style.

The Yorkshire Museum eventually bought the ring for £35,000. Archaeologists said that no similar ring from the period has ever been discovered in the UK before. The experts held a joint workshop at the time. "We agreed that this sapphire ring was even more special than we originally thought. Nothing like it from the 5th or 6th century has been found in the UK before," said Natalie McCaul.

In the end, they also agreed that the ring was owned by someone from the ruling class, probably living in the early Anglo-Saxon period. The end of Roman rule in England in 410 was followed by raids by Celts, Scots, Saxons, Picts and other Roman rebellions. This was followed by the Anglo-Saxon reign, which lasted another 500 years until the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

Sources: www.dailymail.co.uk, www.yorkpress.co.uk