A truly extraordinary ring was recently discovered along the Scottish coastline. This ring is believed to be at least 1,000 years old.
Surprisingly, this significant archaeological find was made not by a professional archaeologist, but by an avid amateur who described himself as an “enthusiastic volunteer.” The discovery sheds new light on the region’s ancient past and highlights the potential of passionate individuals to help uncover historical treasures.
A Retired Volunteer
John Ralph is 68 years old and a retired engineer. “I had recently retired and saw a post looking for volunteers to help with the Burghead excavations,” he explained. This amazing discovery occurred because Ralph was simply looking to make use of his free time.
He further explained his connection to the excavations. “My sister still lives in Burghead and it sounded interesting so I thought why not. I have now joined three different digs there, each for two weeks,” Ralph said.
Discovering the Pictish Kingdom
The ongoing excavation is believed to be on the site of a prominent settlement of the Pictish kingdom. This settlement existed from 500 to 1000 CE. Initially, Ralph was excited by what he thought were groundbreaking finds, but experts later clarified that these were merely some sparkling stones rather than significant artifacts.
Ralph’s early enthusiasm for the excavation, driven by his discoveries of what he thought were important relics, resulted in him actually discovering something amazing.
Pebbles… then Something More
When talking about these false excitements, Ralph explained, “I thoroughly enjoyed them all but my initial enthusiasm for finds was somewhat dented by my knack of getting excited for shiny pebbles.”
However, not all of Ralph’s finds were merely pebbles. “I had found a few interesting items including bone pins and it was great being part of the team, which was the real draw,” he explained.
A Ring Revelation
However, Ralph was yet to find his most exciting discovery. His situation took a turn when Ralph was simply tidying up the floor of an ancient structure.
First, he spotted a metal pin. That would have been great on its own, but then he saw what laid next to it. “Lo and behold,” he recalled, “there was the ring.”
An Astonished Expert
Gordon Noble, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, has led this excavation work over the last three years. He explained the scene: “John was digging and then came over and said ‘look what I’ve found.’”
Upon seeing the ring, Noble felt that what Ralph had stumbled upon was “truly incredible.” He explained, “We could see it was something really exciting as despite more than 1,000 years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting.”
The Significance of the Ring
This surprise discovery is even more remarkable than just being some interesting ancient jewelry. Noble explained, “There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered.”
He continued, “those [Pictish rings] we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way.” A single ring in the ground is truly an extraordinary find!
Powerful Ancient Tribes
The Picts were ancient tribes of northern Scotland. They once formed the most dominant kingdom of this area during the Dark Ages. The Picts were dubbed Picti by the Romans; this is from the Latin for “Painted Ones.”
The Picts were formidable fighters who successfully defended their territory against various invaders. Not only did they repel Roman invasions, but they also thwarted the Angles’ advances, notably during the renowned Battle of Dun Nechtain.
Significant Scottish History
According to the BBC, “If the Picts had lost” their ferocious fight against the Northumbrian Angle invaders, “Scotland might never have existed.”
However, although they were a military powerhouse, the Picts would “disappear from history by the end of the first millennium.” The BBC explained that they were essentially “swallowed whole by the history of another group, the Gaels.”
A Look Into the Past
The ring discovered by a keen amateur, known for his penchant for “shiny pebbles,” holds significant historical value. This find not only links the modern world to a pivotal group in Scotland’s past, but it also has the potential to shed light on a kingdom that has largely faded from historical records.
Currently, the ring is under examination at the National Museum of Scotland. Its analysis may offer deeper insights into the mysterious Pictish kingdom.
