Amazing Gold Ring From Roman Period Found On Ancient French Road

Well, it’s not five gold rings, but it’s only two days until Christmas. Excavations of a Bronze Age settlement in northwestern France have revealed a gold ring, swords, and several other interesting artifacts from the period.

INRAP—France’s National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research—led the excavation, which took place in Brittany. The site contains artifacts from the Bronze Age but shows evidence of permanent settlement in the 10th century. The excavations uncovered pots, terracotta fragments, swords, coins, and a famous gold ring.

Additionally, recent work shows that the site was part of ancient trade routes that moved goods across the region. During the excavation, INRAP archaeologists found quartz stones about 8 meters wide (8 meters wide) which they determined to be an ancient road. Along the side of the road were borders and ditches, and archaeologists found quartz mud made by moving vehicles. According to the release of INRAP, this road may have started around the beginning of the second century and was used until the fourth century.

A gold ring (shown above) was found on that road, and is of the same date. The ring is Roman Nicoloidentified by a figure cut in stone. According to the release of INRAP, the image on the ring may be Venus Victrix, who represents success to the wearer.

Later, the INRAP team found evidence that the site existed between the 5th and 10th centuries, and they arrived between the 7th and 8th centuries. Twelve Carolingian medinas (shown at the top of this article) date from the 9th or 10th century.

Although there are no buildings left at the site, the researchers identified quadrangular plots across the land separated from each other by canals. Although some plots appeared to have houses, others were used for other purposes, including growing crops and grazing.

The team also found underground storage silos often used for grain storage, water storage pits, and other pits that appear to have been used as stoves or ovens. Some of the ancient terracotta objects used for storage or cooking also showed signs of being reused in the Middle Ages, indicating that the inhabitants of the village were aware of its ancient use.

The INRAP excavation is the latest in a series of archaeological excavations in France this year. In April, another group studied victims of the ritual of human sacrifice in the Rhône valley and found that this practice was widespread throughout Europe during the Neolithic period. To read more about this year’s excavations, see our 2024 history.