Description

Summary: 1 bronze ring with onyx intaglio depicting laurel, tripod and raven (symbols of Apollo), not of local provenance.

Research results

A Roman copper alloy signet ring with an onyx intaglio. The intaglio depicts a laurel, tripod and raven; the symbols of Apollo. The ring can be dated to the early first century based on its form, and although it is possible that some immediatly pre-Roman elites wore these rings in immitation of Roman fashion, it is almost certainly not a local find and its provenance is unknown.

This ring was examined by Marshman (2015) as part of thier PhD with the university of Leicester. This PhD undertook a survey of Roman signet rings and intaglios in Britain, criticising previous research which had discussed the objects in almost exclusively art-historical terms, in isolation of the wider archaeological evidence. They highlight that finger rings were an important part of an empire-wide metropolitan tradition due to the importance of sealing in every day tansactions and other contracts. Unlike brooches, signet rings were not a feature of Iron Age dress in Britain, and particularly in the early period appear to have been associated with the roman military and colonia, and those who wished to style themselves as 'Roman'. Wider adoption of signet rings followed in the second and third centuries, when the meaning attributed to them may have changed.