Metal detector treasures on display at town's museum
Paul Jeeves AN ANGLO-Saxon pendant dating from the seventh century and a 550-year-old silver gilt ring have gone on display in North Yorkshire two years after they were discovered.
The two pieces of ancient jewellery have been bought by Harrogate Council's museums and arts section after they were declared treasure under the Treasure Act of 1996.
The ring and pendant were discovered in separate finds in the Kirk Deighton area of North Yorkshire, and were kept by the British Museum until an inquest was held to deem that the jewellery was treasure.
The Government's treasure valuation committee is understood to have split the undisclosed sum paid for the jewellery between the metal detectorists responsible for the finds and the owners of the land where the discoveries were made.
The ring and the pendant have now gone on display at the Courthouse Museum at Knaresborough Castle.
Ros Watson, Harrogate Council's curator of human history, said: "It is lovely to have them on display and they are a very interesting addition to our collection.
"There has already been a lot of interest in the two pieces, and we hope that the public will also enjoy being able to see them in the museum."
The oval gold and garnet pendant, which is 19mm long, is thought to have been one of several on a necklace which would have belonged to a wealthy member of Anglo-Saxon society.
The 15th century silver gilt ring, which is 23mm in diameter, has an inscription in old French, "Sauns de part", which means "without leaving".
This was a common phrase on love jewellery used to express devotion, although it may have had a religious significance because there is a cross and crown of thorns etched on the ring.
The Treasure Act of 1996 means that all finds of gold and silver objects which are more than 300 years old have to be officially declared before they can be deemed to be treasure.
PR.Jeeves@ypn.co.uk
- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
- Strategic review will lead to job losses at Yorkshire Bank
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
