Sapphire ring discovered in a field may have been owned by royalty

Archaeologists say the Escrick Ring is likely to date from the 5th or 6th centuries and nothing like it from that period has ever been found in the UK before.

A group of experts, recently convened by the Yorkshire Museum, in York, to study the ring, believes it could have royal connections.

Natalie McCaul, curator of archaeology at the museum, said: “What this workshop has shown is that this sapphire ring is even more special than we had previously thought.

“Nothing like it has been found in this country from the 5th or 6th centuries.”

The ring was found by metal detectorist Michael Greenhorn, from York and District Metal Detecting Club, in 2009 as he searched a field near the village of Escrick, south of York.

It measures around 2.5cms across and is intricately made of gold, prestige glass and a large sapphire.

The initial assessment of its origin was that it was likely to be Anglo-Saxon or Viking, from the 10th or 11th centuries. Now the expert group has dated it to a much earlier period.

They have also suggested the ring was made in Europe, possibly France, and that it would have belonged to a king, leader or consort – not a bishop which was a previous theory.

“It has been fantastic to hear the thoughts of some of the world’s leading experts and their suggestions will allow us to now go away and try and fit the ring into a historical timeframe,” Miss McCaul said.

“Hopefully this will lead us to finding out more about the ring and possibly even who might have owned it.”

The workshop was attended by more than 30 experts from across the UK. A museum spokesman said further research was under way, in particular a search for
any information which could
link the ring to 5th or 6th centuries.