Bronze Age Gold from Wales

This is a complete, small penannular ring consisting of gold foil wrapped around a copper core. A strip of silvery gold has been wrapped around the ring in a spiral fashion to produce an alternating striped pattern. Small penannular rings of gold or gold foil have traditionally been referred to as ‘hair-rings’ or ‘ring-money’, though their exact function is unknown. They are most frequent in Ireland, but are increasingly known from Wales and southern England, as well as in Scotland, France and the Low Countries. Four further examples in Wales are known from Brynmill and Port Eynon, both Swansea, and Graianog Farm, Gwynedd, as well as one from the Cwm Cadnant hoard, Anglesey.

This is a complete, small penannular ring consisting of gold foil wrapped around a copper core. A strip of silvery gold has been wrapped around the ring in a spiral fashion to produce an alternating striped pattern. The stripes are wide with four silvery gold inlayed stripes and five gold foil stripes evident around the ring. The terminals are flat and separated by about 2.7mm at maximum. The gold foil has been damaged slightly and removed on one side, revealing the copper core underneath. There are small nicks and scratches over the whole surface of the ring.

Project Title: Gold in Britain’s auriferous regions, 2450-800 BC: towards a coherent Research Framework and Strategy. Status: Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Network Grant funded project (2018-2019)

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