A unique silver finger ring - which could be over 5,000 years old - found by an avid amateur metal detectorist in County Durham has been declared as treasure at an inquest. 

The Brancaster ring was discovered near the Roman Fort in Binchester by Vince Wilson two years ago.

Experts dated the jewellery and believe it was made between 3,300 BC and 450 AD, making it a minimum of 2,700 years old and a maximum of 5,300 years old.

Brancaster rings were used by the elite of Roman society, both as a status symbol and as a practical way to seal documents.

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One famous example, the Silvianus Brancaster ring, is believed to have inspired JRR Tolkien to write the Lord of the Rings series.

Details of the find, made on October 17, 2021, were heard at an inquest conducted by Assistant Coroner Crispin Oliver.

Mr Wilson said: “I was metal detectoring in the Binchester area of County Durham when I found a Brancaster silver ring, which I took to the Finds Liason Officer at Durham County Council."

"I confirm I had all the necessary permissions to be on the land by the owner."

Mr Oliver said he was “delighted” to declare the item as treasure, meaning it will pass into the hands of a museum for study.

A treasure trove inquest is held when a museum wishes to acquire a find of “potential treasure” – as the silver Brancaster ring was ruled to be treasure, the Crown is formally regarded as the owner.

As set out by the British Museum, the finding will be valued by a committee, which recommends a price for the treasure trove to the Secretary of State.

The museum will then be invoiced for the recommended amount and the finder will be paid. 

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A report prepared by the Finds Liaison Officer for Durham and Darlington outlined the find was a “complete late Roman silver finger ring of the Brancaster type dating from the period between 3,300BC and 450AD with engravings on the band”.

The ring was intended to function as a “seal or signet ring” and would be pressed into wax to seal documents and letters.

As Brancaster rings are regarded to have been used during late Roman and early medieval periods, the treasure trove found by Mr Wilson is important evidence of the late Roman occupation of County Durham.

Though several examples of Brancaster rings have been found in the south and east of England, very few have been unearthed in the north.

The ones that have been found were dug up in Lancaster and Yorkshire, consequently making the Binchester discovery in County Durham the most northerly recorded. 

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Found along fields near the Binchester Roman fort, the item is consistent with the evidence that has already been discovered in the area, demonstrating the continued occupation of the fort well into the 5th Century. 

The coroner said: “I am delighted to say it is definitely an item of treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act.

“My congratulations go to Mr Wilson for finding an item of such rarity and of significance historically.”