Amateur detectorist unearths rare 1,000-year-old Viking gold arm-ring

A metal detector enthusiast has made a remarkable discovery on the Isle of Man this spring - a 1,000-year-old Viking gold arm-ring, intricately crafted by braiding eight gold rods. The arm-ring appears to have been cut, likely to allow its owner to use it in financial transactions, shedding light on Viking-era economic practices.

Ronald Clucas, a member of the Manx Detectorist Society, found the arm-ring folded in half. Measuring about 1.5 inches (3.7 cm) wide and 3 inches (7.7 cm) long, the piece weighs nearly 1 ounce (27.3 grams), which experts describe as a “significant weight” for jewelry of its size, Caliber.Az reports via Live Science. 

“It was quite a big shock to discover this lovely piece of gold, I couldn't really believe it at first!” Clucas said. He added, “Gold generally gives a very low signal on the detector, so you can't really predict what is going to be uncovered.”

The Isle of Man, situated in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland, has long been a rich site for Viking Age artifacts dating from A.D. 793 to 1066. Originally a Viking trading hub before permanent settlement in the 800s, the island has yielded numerous treasures, though gold finds remain rare.

According to Allison Fox, curator for archaeology at Manx National Heritage, the arm-ring, dating from around A.D. 1000 to 1100, served multiple purposes: “Jewellery items such as this had several functions in the Viking Age both as prized personal possessions and visible displays of wealth. They were easily portable and were also used to cover costs in financial transactions.”

The arm-ring was likely cut twice, possibly during separate transactions, Fox noted. “For reasons we will never know, this fragment of gold arm-ring was buried in the ground until discovered. It may have been hidden for safe-keeping, could just have been lost or may even have been buried as an offering to the Viking Gods.”

Declared “treasure” by the Isle of Man Deputy Coroner of Inquests on May 29—a status given to precious metal artifacts over 300 years old—the arm-ring now sits on display in the Manx Museum’s Viking Gallery alongside other silver and gold hoards.

This find marks Clucas’s second piece of Viking treasure, adding to his 50 years of metal detecting experience, following his discovery of silver and lead ingots in 2005. 

By Naila Huseynova