An amateur metal detectorist in Denmark has unearthed a rare gold ring that may have belonged to an unknown royal family.
According to a translation, Lars Nielsen discovered a large, intricately decorated gold ring (set with a red gemstone) while exploring Emmerlev, a parish in Southern Jutland, Denmark. The ring dates back to the fifth or sixth century. Nielsen stated: “This is a unique and unparalleled discovery.”
The exquisite gold ring with a gemstone, over 1,500 years old, recently found in Denmark. (Photo: The National Museum).
Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark have identified that this piece of jewelry holds significant “historical meaning” and may belong to royalty connected to the Merovingians, a dynasty of Frankish kings who ruled regions that are now France, Belgium, and Germany during the fifth to eighth centuries.
Kirstine Pommergaard, an archaeologist and manager at the National Museum of Denmark, stated: “The gold ring not only reveals that there may have been a new royal family in Emmerlev but also connects this area to one of the largest power centers in Europe during the Iron Age. This gold ring is likely a women’s ring and may have belonged to the daughter of a prince in Emmerlev. Gold was often a diplomatic gift, and we know that royal families arranged marriages between their children and those of their allies.”
According to the statement, researchers based their conclusion on the ring’s refined craftsmanship, suggesting it belonged to royalty. The ring features intricately crafted spiral designs on the underside and trefoil-shaped knobs where the ring meets the gemstone, a characteristic often associated with Frankish craftsmanship.
Pommergaard noted: “This is an impressive level of craftsmanship that is difficult to replicate today.”
The red gemstone of the ring also provides clues about its owner, as similar stones were symbols of power among the Norse, while high-quality gold rings of the Merovingians were often set with a coin, researchers stated in their report.
Pommergaard added: “This indicates that the ring was considered a symbol of power in the Norse world. Perhaps the prince’s family in Emmerlev controlled an area between Ribe [a town in Southwestern Jutland] and Hedeby [a Viking trading settlement in Denmark that is now in Germany].”
The location of the ring is a few miles from where previous artifacts have been found, including collections of gold and silver coins, ceramics, and first-century gold horn, leading experts to believe that this item was not lost but intentionally placed in this area.
Anders Hartvig, a medieval archaeologist at the Museum of Southern Jutland, stated: “The wearer of this ring may have known the owner of the gold horn. Perhaps they were related. Along with recent discoveries, this helps archaeologists gain a new perspective on the influence of Southern Jutland, which is greater than we previously understood, and the Wadden Sea was not closed off but rather featured the presence of nobility with trade connections to this southern region.”
