Date: Circa: 14th - 15th AD
Physical Properties: UK Ring Size: O 1/2: USA Ring Size: 7.5: weight: 2.1 grams:
Here we have a locally detected* silver stirrup ring, the band being stirrup in shape and hence the name. The hoop is a simple band which terminates with a silver turret. Within this a small Amythest is set with age associated wear and some colour depreciation.
* Detected early this year whilst searching the banks of an old dry riverbed once a tributary of the river Nene in northern Cambridgeshire.
Condition: Very Fine **:
The ring has not been cleaned and thus preserves the natural deep grey to black oxidisation tones which, are mirror like in their finish. The Amythest appears complete and original with fine watery purple tones.
** Please note that there is a small transverse twist to the band at the lower left quadrant.
Reference material and further reading:
Where possible ancient artifacts may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:
British Artefacts Vol.1, 2 and 3: Brett Hammond [Greenlight Publishing 2010]:
Celtic & Roman Artefacts: Nigel Mills [Greenlight Publishing 2007]:
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome: Mary Beard [Profile Books 2015]:
50 Bronze Age Artefacts: Portable Antiquities Scheme: Dot Boughton [Amberley Publishing 2021]:
Pottery in Britain 4000BC to AD 1900: Lloyd Laing [Greenlight Publishing 2003]:
British Iron Age Coins In The British Museum: Richard Hobbs [British Museum 1996]:
Swords of The Viking Age: Ian Peirce: [The Boydell Press 2003]:
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Volume 85: [Cambridge University Press
2019]
Mesolithic Europe: Geoff Bailey / Penny Spikins [Cambridge University Press 2008]
Viking Art: James Graham-Campbell: [Thames & Hudson, London 2018]
Roman Coins Vol. 1, 2 & 3: David R Sear: [Spink London 2000]:
The Roman Cavalry: Karen R. Dixon: [B. . Batsford 1997]:
Rome’s Saxon Shore: Coastal Defenses of Roman Britain AD 250 – 500: Nic Fields [Osprey Publishing 2006]:
Amulets of Ancient Egypt: Carol Andrews: [University of Texas Press / British Museum Press 1994]:
The Uniforms of the Roman World: Military dress, weapons, artillery, ships, siege engines and fortifications: Kevin F. Killey: [Anness Publishing 2017]:
Where possible finger rings may be referenced to similar material observed in the following publications within my collection:
Victorian and Albert Museum CATALOGUE OF FINGER RINGS 1930: C.C.Oman [Anglia Publishing. 1991 – Now out of print]:
Finger Rings: Diana Scarisbrick / Martin Henig: [Ashmolean Museum Oxford. 2003]:
Ancient Rings An Illustrated Collectors Guide: T. N. Polio: [McFarland & Co Inc. 2018:
1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments of the Hand: Le Van, Marthe; Ebendorf, Robert [W: Lark Books 2004]:
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Provenance:
The ring was detected in 2018 and here are the approximate Google Earth coordinates: 52°27'33.23"N - 0°17'13.88"W: