An "astonishing" ring, dating back at least 1,000 years, was recently discovered off the coast of Scotland. However, this remarkable find wasn’t made by an experienced archaeologist, but by an amateur who stumbled upon this ancient piece of jewelry.
John Ralph and the Volunteer Excavation
John Ralph, a 68-year-old retired engineer, began volunteering in excavations to make the most of his free time. "I had recently retired and saw an announcement for volunteers in the Burghead excavation," he told BBC Scotland.
"My sister still lives in Burghead, and it seemed interesting, so I thought, why not? I’ve now participated in three excavations there, each lasting two weeks."
The area being excavated is believed to have been a settlement that served as a “significant seat of power” during the reign of the Picts between 500 and 1000 AD. Initially, Ralph made several fascinating discoveries, but experts explained that they were just shiny pebbles.
"I enjoyed every moment, but my initial excitement about discoveries was somewhat diminished by my ability to get excited about shiny pebbles," Ralph said.
"I had found a few interesting items, like bone pins, and it was great being part of the team."
The Astonishing Discovery
This all changed when Ralph was clearing the floor of a building. First, he found a metal pin, then "suddenly, he found the ring."
"John was digging and came over to me saying ‘look what I found,’" said Professor Gordon Noble, an archaeologist from the University of Aberdeen, who has been leading the excavations for the past three years.
"It was truly amazing. We could see the gleam from what was likely garnet in the ring, despite more than 1,000 years in the ground."
The Significance of the Discovery
What makes this discovery even more impressive, according to Noble, is the fact that “very few Pictish rings have been found, and those we know of usually come from hoards that were placed in the ground for safekeeping.”
The Picts, known as Picti by the Romans due to their tattoos, were northern tribes that made up the largest kingdom in Scotland during the Dark Ages.
Despite their military strength, the Picts "disappeared" from history at the end of the first millennium, as their story was "swallowed up" by the rise of the Gaels.
Implications for History
The ring discovered by Ralph not only connects the present with an important period in Scotland’s history, but it may also provide a greater understanding of the Pictish kingdom, which has been "lost" to history. The ring is currently at the National Museum of Scotland for analysis.
This discovery could shed light on a time and culture that has remained partly enigmatic, offering new perspectives on the history of Scotland and the role of the Picts in ancient British society.
