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
Gold Early Medieval Ring
12017-05-21T17:41:19-07:00Edward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655164562a golden Anglo-Saxon medieval Ringplain2017-05-21T18:05:05-07:00Dowes, Amy. EARLY MEDIEVAL Finger Ring, 2011. SWYOR-56EA98. Portable Antiquities Scheme. http://finds.org.uk:443/database/artefacts/record/id/511009.850-100 ACESWYOR-56EA98The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.54.329461, -1.421087GoldPortable Antiquity SchemesHambleton, EnglandEarly MedievalEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655
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12017-05-24T10:09:20-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707deaMap ViewAustin Mason2An interactive map of all the objects in the collectiongoogle_maps2017-05-24T11:39:30-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
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1media/2012T497.jpg2017-05-21T18:29:46-07:00Gold Early Medieval Ring18Object Pageplain2017-09-20T19:23:12-07:00Thisgold finger ring, found in Yorkshire, England in 2011, is dated to around the 9th or 10th century AD. The ring is primarily made of gold and shows clear signs of craftsmanship in its design, as it has several impressions in the band. The overall make of the ring is simple, but does show evidence of being worked on by a skilled craftsman and the fact that the right is made out of gold also provides further evidence that this was the work of skilled craftsman and not a common person
The ring bears a striking resemblance to several other rings found in England, as the triple-pelleted triangles have been seen on other rings from around the same time and location as this ring.[1] The two rings have many similarities they are both made of gold and are from around the same time. Moreover the exact same triple patterned triangles appear on both of these rings, suggesting that either they were made by the same person or that the symbol was something significant at that time.[2] This means that it was probably a common style during that time or perhaps was the sigil of something significant, such as a prominent family or a cultural aspect. Rings were also often seen as important part of Viking lore and mythology as they appear several times at important moments within the main mythological work The Song of The Volsungs.[3] Rings appear several times throughout the sage, but most important instance is when Sigurd gives Brynhild a gold ring as a sign of his love, which he eventually steals back leading to chaos. This shows that rings were not only a sign of status but also possibly of love and marriage as well as loyalty.
The dating and location of this ring also tells a great deal about it as due to its date being around the 9th or 10th century it is possibly associated with the Micel Here. The Micel Hhere was a great Viking army that invaded England during the 9th Century and carved out a section of the country, which was called Danelaw. The ring could have come from this army or some of it descendants. This idea is supported even further by the fact that the ring was found near Yorkshire so it makes sense that the ring could have been taken or made at York, because for a time the army wintered there. However, it could have also simply been made there or worked its way there through trade once Yorkshire was made part of Danelaw. So while it may have not come from the Micel Here itself it could have easily have come period of Danelaw occupation.
Jewelry pieces are often seen as a sign of status within Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon societies, gold and silver objects are usually used as a way to display social position. Among the various items that would have been used in this competition for social standing, ranging from weapons to brooches. Rings are one of the most common as they are easy to obtain. Rings are easy to fashion if the materials are available and allow for a certain amount of customization with engraving but they could also be easily obtained through trade with other civilizations. They have appeared several times throughout Viking culture both in myths, such as the Saga of the Volsungs, but also a signs of social status and gifts of fealty to lords from their followers.