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 Finger Ring
12017-05-10T10:32:51-07:00Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69164562A golden finger ring with triangle patterns on wider half.plain2017-05-10T10:36:03-07:00Marsden, Katie. Finger Ring. Still Image, December 12–14, 2014. PUBLIC-2014T939. Portable Antiquities Scheme. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/655558.800-1000PUBLIC-2014T939CC BY51.8637187,0.9732419GoldPortable Antiquities SchemeTendring District, EnglandEarly MedievalElise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69
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/2014T939a.jpg2017-05-20T20:15:26-07:00Gold Finger Ring6object pageplain2017-09-20T20:15:58-07:00This finger ring was discovered in the Tendring District on the eastern side of England at an unspecified time and unspecified context. It is made from a gold sheet in an elongated shape that widens on one side, and the widened side is embossed with triangle shapes. The hooks at either end of the ring suggest that they were once connected, but have since broken apart. The ring is dated from 800-1000 CE and measures 23.7mm long, 10.4mm wide, and weighs 2g. There were similar rings to this one found all along the eastern coast of Europe in places like Beachamwell and Whorlton.[1] The ring’s date and location could be useful in proving that the Anglo-Saxons and the vikings shared much more in terms of style and culture than the monastic texts would care to admit.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle only mentions Danes, or vikings, of this time as violent barbarians and they only appear in the Chronicle as the opposition of the English kings and only in the context of war.[2] This ring, however, may suggest that the Anglo-Saxons and the barbarous warriors that the monastic texts made the vikings out to be were not so different after all. This gold ring resembles a Danish arm ring dated to the 9th century in both shape and style, with the two ends tied together opposite a wider, decorated side. These rings were given by Scandinavian kings and other leaders to their allies and underlings as gifts to secure loyalties.[3] In much Anglo-Saxon literature, such as Beowulf, there is much evidence for ring-giving as an Anglo-Saxon custom as well.[4] This suggests possible peaceful interaction between the vikings and the Anglo-Saxons but also shared culture and style.
Most monastic texts, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, attempt to distance themselves as much as possible from the “Danes.” They were only mentioned as sly, bloodthirsty enemies. The monks were unwilling to admit anything shared--culturally or otherwise--between the Christian Anglo-Saxons and the pagan vikings, not only because of the vikings’ invasion of England but also their rejection of the Christian faith. Therefore, the view we have today of the two peoples suggests that they had nothing alike. The vikings were raiders, pillagers, and warriors rather than the more civilized people the Anglo-Saxons were written to be. The ring, however, shines a light onto what may be shared style and culture between the two peoples, and if they had this custom alike, they surely had other things alike as well.