The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
12017-05-21T23:03:44-07:00Bronze Ring6Object pageplain2017-09-21T22:38:36-07:00This small, purely cosmetic object would have transmitted social status and wealth of the wearer. Even more so, the societal weight and connotations of this item would vary across regions, illustrating the differing and dynamic cultures that are spread across Denmark and possibly other nearby areas, such as Norway and Sweden.
This is a bronze ring that contains a rhombic cross-section as well as corroded iron on some of the surface of the ring. The bronze ring has a slight tint, and has a diameter of approximately 2.5 centimeters. The rhombic cross section of the ring seems quite consistent with the circular shape of the ring itself. This item was most likely crafted between 775-1049. It is also likely that this item, would have been buried with someone as a grave good, or it could have been misplaced.
Such a ring would be used as a symbol of status or wealth. Interestingly enough, “the most valued metal in Finland during the Viking Age was bronze, not silver as in Scandinavia.”[1]Therefore, the connotations tied to a ring like this would have varied across regions. Finding jewelry, specifically a bronze ring in modern day Denmark raises questions regarding the source of the item. It makes us realize the reach of the Norse, as well as the sharing and transportation of different metallurgy techniques across time. It also makes historians consider the very possible influence of Finnish metallurgy techniques and designs on Norse culture. This overlap of cultures leads historians to ponder any other possible shared traditions between cultures between Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.