Posted on 02/26/2009 6:59:32 AM PST by BGHater
A TREASURE hunter has unearthed a 14th-century silver ring at the back of a farmer's field in Flintshire. Douglas Fletcher, 44, of Flint, found the decorative, gilt, 97 per cent silver ring in the field in his home town, in January last year.
At an inquest in Flint yesterday, the find was declared treasure by John Gittins, deputy coroner for north east Wales.
Mr Fletcher, who has been treasure hunting for three years with wife Linda, came across the ring on one of his regular solo hunts.
The Mold Historical Search Society member had to dig just six inches into the ground after his hi-tech metal detector detected the treasure.
Speaking at the inquest, Mr Fletcher said: "My metal detector is based on pitch and when a high pitch sounds, like it did on that day, it's a very good signal.
"I remember that the ring was broken but that the other piece was hanging on by a thread, so I put it in my find pouch, to show it to the club. I didn't have a clue that it would be actual treasure."
Farm owner David Roberts, who now shares ownership of the ring, called the find 'unexpected' as the land on which it was found had been ploughed several times in previous years.
A report from curator of archaeology at the National Museum Wales, Dr Mark Redknapp dated the ring back to the 1300s and analysed it as treasure due to the high quantity of precious metal in the ring.
Since the find, the ring has been in the possession of experts at the National Museum Wales, Mr Fletcher says he will now liaise with Flintshire's museums service after they expressed an interest in it.
Mr Fletcher told the Evening Leader: "I just hope that the museum will want to keep the ring and restore it I want this piece of Flintshire history to stay where it belongs."
Bling ping.
Uh oh... the ring to rule them all?
No ... The One Ring wouldn’t have corroded like that.
Yeah. Sauron's first attempt. Obviously didn't work out quite as well ...
The End.
And when will the Royal museum be returning the Egyptian trinkets?
Has the stone of Scotland been returned yet too? Damn Blighty!
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Gods |
Thanks BGHater. |
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Lol!
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