A treasure hunter has uncovered an elaborate gold ring in southwestern Denmark that could shed light on a previously unknown lineage of royal figures with ties to powerful European dynasties in the early Medieval period.

Lars Nielsen, 39, was metal detecting in the fields near Emmerlev when he came across the large gold ring encrusted with a red semiprecious stone. I was so excited and overwhelmed, almost speechless – that’s not like me at all. But this is undoubtedly the most significant find of my detecting career, Nielsen said. To make a unique discovery that contributes to our shared local and national history is just surreal.

Initial examination by experts at the National Museum of Denmark indicates the ring’s intricate design and craftsmanship link it to the Merovingian dynasty, a dominant political power across modern-day France, Belgium, and Germany from the 5th to 8th centuries AD. The spiral embellishments and three-lobed settings are hallmarks of Frankish metalworking from this period, said Kirstine Pommergaard, a curator at the museum.

View of the back side of the ring found in Jutland
View of the back side of the ring found in Jutland. Credit: Nationalmuseet

She believes the ring provides evidence of a previously unknown princely lineage in the Emmerlev area that had close alliances with the Merovingians. As gold was often given as diplomatic gifts, it’s possible a local princess wed a prince to forge stronger political bonds. The ring’s red gemstone also suggests it functioned as a symbol of authority within the Nordic elite.

Other artifacts found nearby, including two gold coins and seven silver coins, further attest to high-level interactions between the region and Merovingian power centers to the south. This was not just some lost trading piece – the ring’s craftsmanship and gemstone were meant to showcase status and connections within Scandinavia, Pommergaard said.

The new discovery adds intrigue to the rich but still emerging history of coastal Jutland’s aristocratic networks. Locals hope ongoing research of the ring and its context can fill in blanks about the once semi-autonomous political structures along the North Sea.

As Anders Hartvig of the Sønderjylland Museum stated, This is reshaping perceptions of how cosmopolitan and influential the south Danish elite were in antiquity.

Sources

Nationalmuseet i København (National Museum of Denmark)

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