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Simple Description; A long polished copper alloy pin with a little free-moving decorative ring at its head. The ring is decorated with simple lines of punched circles, which was probably the most decoration they could fit on such a small ring. The body of the pin is undecorated. The copper alloy has turned green with time, but the item is otherwise complete. It could have been used to hold clothes or as a hairpin.

Discussion; Ringed pins are generally celtic in style. Numerous parallels from Dublin have been found in late eleventh or twelfth century contexts. One with a very similar off-centre decoration ring from Christchurch Place, Dublin, came from a late eleventh-century context (Fanning 1994, DRP188, Fig.68). An example with a much shorter shaft and thinner ring came from a late tenth early eleventh century 'fosse' in Fishamble Street (ibid, DRP203, fig. 71). A closer parallel is one from a context dated to the twelfth century in the High Street, Dublin, (ibid, fig.80). However, the published dates for many High Street ringed pins are now considered to be about 50 years too late (O Floinn, in litt.).

Detailed Description Crutch-headed ringed pin with stirrip shaped ring, both decorated with ringed and dot ornament, deeply punched bit slightly irregularly placed. Ring secured in sockets by small tenons. Shaft complete and plain, or circular cross-section.