A pair of precious metal decorative rings were among a host of artefacts handed over to the National Museum of Wales.
The rings, one dating back to the 12th Century and made of gold and rose quartz, and the other made of silver and of a style typical of the 13th Century, are thought to provide a unique snapshot of the fashions once popular in Wales.
Both pieces were found last year by members of the public using metal detectors, the first unearthed in Rhoose on September 12, while the second ring was discovered on July 3 in Llanfair, Vale of Glamorgan.
Under the Treasure Act 1996, all items discovered and which are thought to date back more than 300 years or are made of more than 10% silver, must be considered before an inquest, and have the potential to be seized and handed to a museum for preservation and safekeeping.
The rings were among 10 items found by members of the public in the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan areas – all of which were declared “treasure” by coroner Mary Elizabeth Hassell at an inquest held in Cardiff yesterday.
Dr Mark Redknap, medievalist and a curator at the National Museum of Wales, who was at the inquest, said: “Objects from the museum’s archaeology collection, such as those which form the National Museum’s in Cardiff’s new Origins: In Search of Early Wales exhibition, tell the tale of how people used to live in Wales.
“These decorative rings are a valuable addition to this story, uncovering information about fashion, style and other aspects of life in medieval Wales.”
Other items at the inquest which were also declared treasure included a fragment from a silver gilt devotion ring thought to date back to the 15th Century, an Iron Age terret and harness ring found in Cowbridge, and five 15th-century silver groats of Henry V-VI discovered in Llantwit Major.
Most of the artefacts were found in ploughed fields or farm fields, and are thought to have been lost, rather than buried by their original owners.
The artefacts will remain at the National Museum of Wales while they are valued by the Independent Valuations Committee, which sits at the British Museum in London. A date has not been set for the valuations hearing, and depending on its outcome the museum may pursue acquisition of the objects so they can be put on display.
From: Icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
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