I meant to write this up on Friday, but I’ve been searching for a decent image - to no avail. I’ll use the one from this year’s Treasure report (forthcoming) to show this Viking Arm ring which has an interesting story behind it’s acquisition.
The 24 Hour Museum have featured a story about this piece of Viking gold, which was brought into our offices about 2 years ago by David Evans, FLO for Yorkshire. It had been found under the bed of a local builder who had recently passed away. Andrew Morrison the curator of archaeology at York Museum said:
This is only the second arm ring of this type to be found in England and for us to have it is exceptional,” said Andrew Morrison, curator of archaeology at the museum. “It is a stunningly nice piece and not only is it gold and Viking but incredibly rare as well. We are delighted that we are able to keep it here in York where it was found.”
The entry that will be produced in this year’s report says:
Circumstances of discovery: During construction work; reported after his father’s death by the finders’ son.
Description: The ring has been cut through and partly straightened into a curved L-shape, but is otherwise complete. It is made of two thick, round rods with beaded wires between them, twisted into a cable and tapering to the ends. The original ends (now together at one end of the cable because of the cut) are joined to a plain, polyhedral knob and are closely bound with plain wires on either side of it. The beaded wires of the cable show girth grooves round many of the ‘beads’, which were caused in manufacture. There is a deep cut in one side of the ring towards one end and a few small dents at other points along its length.
The ring has been cut through and partly straightened into a curved L-shape, but is otherwise complete. It is made of two thick, round rods with beaded wires between them, twisted into a cable and tapering to the ends. The original ends (now together at one end of the cable because of the cut) are joined to a plain, polyhedral knob and are closely bound with plain wires on either side of it. The beaded wires of the cable show girth grooves round many of the ‘beads’, which were caused in manufacture. There is a deep cut in one side of the ring towards one end and a few small dents at other points along its length.Discussion: The armring can be compared in its cable combining thick, plain rods and thin, beaded wires with an example of the Viking period from Wipholm, Germany, while the knob joining the ends bound with wires is similar to other Viking gold armrings from Dublin, Hornelund, Denmark, and Goodrington, Devon (Graham-Campbell 1980, pp. 61-2, pls. 220-23).
Dimensions: Length: 260 mm; Diameter: 15 mm at centre and 6 mm at ends; weight: 324.6g. Surface analysis conducted at the British Museum indicated a gold content of approximately 95 per cent.
Disposition: Yorkshire Museum.
The Treasure report will be released in full for 2004 in the next couple of months, and will be the biggest produced yet by the DCMS.
OpenCalais helped to tag this with: Andrew Morrison • British Museum • David Evans • Denmark • Dublin • Germany • Hornelund • Hour Museum • United Kingdom • Wipholm • York • York Museum • Yorkshire Museum
Possibly related posts: Nintendo DS exploring a museum • An experience not to be missed 23rd September • An experience not to be missed 6th October •
