A metal detector exploring an area in southwest Denmark has discovered an early medieval gold ring. Experts believe it also reveals the existence of an elite family with connections to the Merovingians.
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen has reported the find of the gold ring, which dates to the 5th or 6th century, near the village of Emmerlev in the southeast corner of the country. It was found by Lars Nielsen.
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“I was so excited and overwhelmed that I could hardly say anything, and that’s not usually something that characterizes me, but it is without a doubt my best find so far,” Lars says. “To make such a unique and one-of-a-kind find is completely surreal. I am very proud and honored to be able to contribute a piece to our shared history both locally and nationally.”
The ring suggests that a new, unknown princely family lived in the area and had close connections to the Merovingians, a leading dynasty in Western Europe in the Early Middle Ages.
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The connection to the Merovingians is due to the ring’s construction with very well-executed spirals on the underside and trefoil knobs in the transition between the ring rail and the socket with the stone, which is characteristic and well-known for Frankish craftsmanship.
Photo courtesy National Museum of Denmark
“The gold ring not only reveals a possible new princely family in Emmerlev, but also connects the area with one of Europe’s largest centers of power in the Iron Age,” says Kirstine Pommergaard, an inspector at the National Museum. “The gold ring is probably a woman’s ring and may have belonged to a prince’s daughter who was married to a prince in Emmerlev. Gold is typically diplomatic gifts, and we know that people have married into alliances, just as it probably happened with Thyra and Gorm the Old and in more recent times when Christian IX became known as ‘Europe’s father-in-law’ for marrying his daughters into other royal houses.”
The archaeologists do not believe that the ring was simply lost during a trading trip for two main reasons. First, other objects have been found in the same area – notably two gold coins, seven silver coins and Frisian pottery – which confirm contact with the Merovingian area, probably via allies in Friesland, which was located in present-day Belgium and the Netherlands.
Secondly, the ring is set with a red semi-precious stone, which is a well-known symbol of power in Scandinavia, while the elite gold rings of the Merovingians are typically set with a coin or a plaque, like a signet ring. This shows that the ring was to serve as a symbol of power in Denmark.
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Photo courtesy National Museum of Denmark
“The Merovingians were interested in entering into a network with families and individuals who could control trade and resources in an area,” Pommergaard adds, “Perhaps the princely family in Emmerlev had control over an area between Ribe and Hedeby and thus secured trade in the area.”
Lars Nielsen gave the ring to a local museum, which in turn has handed it over to the National Museum of Denmark. Lars did have a replica created, which he gave to his wife as a Christmas present.
Lars Nielsen. Photo by Ulrik Pedersen, courtesy National Museum of Denmark
“Hopefully, it will be passed down in the family, who will in future be able to identify where it was found and present the letter from the National Museum, which describes the ring’s special history and significance. So in that way it has been perpetuated in our family,” he says.
A metal detector exploring an area in southwest Denmark has discovered an early medieval gold ring. Experts believe it also reveals the existence of an elite family with connections to the Merovingians.
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen has reported the find of the gold ring, which dates to the 5th or 6th century, near the village of Emmerlev in the southeast corner of the country. It was found by Lars Nielsen.
“I was so excited and overwhelmed that I could hardly say anything, and that’s not usually something that characterizes me, but it is without a doubt my best find so far,” Lars says. “To make such a unique and one-of-a-kind find is completely surreal. I am very proud and honored to be able to contribute a piece to our shared history both locally and nationally.”
The ring suggests that a new, unknown princely family lived in the area and had close connections to the Merovingians, a leading dynasty in Western Europe in the Early Middle Ages.
The connection to the Merovingians is due to the ring’s construction with very well-executed spirals on the underside and trefoil knobs in the transition between the ring rail and the socket with the stone, which is characteristic and well-known for Frankish craftsmanship.
“The gold ring not only reveals a possible new princely family in Emmerlev, but also connects the area with one of Europe’s largest centers of power in the Iron Age,” says Kirstine Pommergaard, an inspector at the National Museum. “The gold ring is probably a woman’s ring and may have belonged to a prince’s daughter who was married to a prince in Emmerlev. Gold is typically diplomatic gifts, and we know that people have married into alliances, just as it probably happened with Thyra and Gorm the Old and in more recent times when Christian IX became known as ‘Europe’s father-in-law’ for marrying his daughters into other royal houses.”
The archaeologists do not believe that the ring was simply lost during a trading trip for two main reasons. First, other objects have been found in the same area – notably two gold coins, seven silver coins and Frisian pottery – which confirm contact with the Merovingian area, probably via allies in Friesland, which was located in present-day Belgium and the Netherlands.
Secondly, the ring is set with a red semi-precious stone, which is a well-known symbol of power in Scandinavia, while the elite gold rings of the Merovingians are typically set with a coin or a plaque, like a signet ring. This shows that the ring was to serve as a symbol of power in Denmark.
“The Merovingians were interested in entering into a network with families and individuals who could control trade and resources in an area,” Pommergaard adds, “Perhaps the princely family in Emmerlev had control over an area between Ribe and Hedeby and thus secured trade in the area.”
Lars Nielsen gave the ring to a local museum, which in turn has handed it over to the National Museum of Denmark. Lars did have a replica created, which he gave to his wife as a Christmas present.
“Hopefully, it will be passed down in the family, who will in future be able to identify where it was found and present the letter from the National Museum, which describes the ring’s special history and significance. So in that way it has been perpetuated in our family,” he says.
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