A few days ago, a pensioner made an absolutely fantastic discovery while volunteering at an excavation in Scotland. The site of the discovery was the remains of a fortress that once belonged to the Picts.
The complexly crafted ring is around 1,000 years old. (Photo: National Museum Scotland)
According to a media report, the finder, a retired engineer, took part in the archaeological investigation, which lasted several days, out of a whim of adventure. On the last day, he unexpectedly found a dragon-shaped ring, over 1,000 years old.
Initial analyses describe the piece of jewelry as “historically remarkable.” It was found in the remains of a house that was once part of Burghead Fort. The bright red centerpiece of the ring is striking; it could be a piece of garnet.
Burghead Fort Historic Site – an archaeologically promising site
The historic site of Burghead Fort is located on a headland jutting deep into the sea. Today the area is part of the parish of Burghead, which was founded in the 19th century and overlies many of the archaeological remains of the fort.
“Few Pictish rings have been discovered so far, and those we know of tend to come from hoards that were deliberately buried underground for safekeeping,” Gordon Noble, professor of archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, said in a statement.
“So we didn’t expect to find something so special in the floor of a former house,” Noble added. His team also discovered further evidence of complex forms of metalworking around the site.
Was Burghead an important seat of power during Pictish times?
“These clues add to the growing evidence that Burghead was a significant seat of power in Pictish times,” the researcher concludes. The ring is now being analyzed by experts at the National Museum of Scotland.
“We will now also look at the building remains and other artefacts to check whether the ring was made locally. And of course we want to know for whom such an important piece of jewelry could have been made,” Noble is told by LiveScience quoted.
The culture of the Picts lasted until about the middle of the 9th century AD. Apart from a few symbols, the tribal peoples left no written language, which is why archaeological finds can always provide valuable clues about their society.
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