Roman ring and Viking fragment found in North Dorset declared treasure

Both pieces of ancient jewellery were found last year on farmland in North Dorset.

The first, a Roman silver ring, had been slightly flattened. It was found at fields in Manston by David Waxman from Bicester in Oxfordshire and was described by West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston as a ‘silver finger ring’.

It was analysed by the British Museum and is believed to date from the 4th century AD and to be substantially made of silver.

The second piece was a Viking ring fragment that may have been used for bullion. A piece of iron was found between the folds of the silver finger ring.

The fragment was found by Lisa Grace from Derby close to Iwerne Minster in March 2010.

It was analysed by the British Museum and found to contain 95 per cent silver with lead and gold traces in it.

A report from the British Museum said that: “Viking rings of similar strip form and style of decoration are recorded from a number of sites in Scandinavia.”

It continued: “The testing nicks on the present piece further confirm a date in the Viking period around the 9th or 10th century.”