A stunning gold ring from Roman times has been found on an ancient French road

Well, it’s not five gold rings, but just two days before Christmas we’ll be satisfied with it. Excavations at a Bronze Age settlement in northwest France have uncovered a remarkable gold ring, swords and a handful of other interesting items from the time.

INRAP – the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research – led the excavations in Brittany. The site contains Bronze Age artefacts but shows evidence of continuous settlement through the 10th century. Excavations have uncovered vases, clay fragments, swords, coins, and a distinctive gold ring.

Furthermore, recent works indicate that the site was part of an ancient trade route that handled goods from all over the continent. During the excavation, INRAP archaeologists found a strip of quartz gravel about 26 feet (8 meters) wide and determined it to be an ancient road. The sides of the road were defined by ditches, and archaeologists have identified traces of grooves in the quartz made by wheeled vehicles. According to the INRAP version, the road likely dates from between the beginning of the 2nd century and was used during the 4th century.

A gold ring (shown above) was found on this route, dating from approximately the same time period. The ring is A Niccolò the RomanIt can be identified by the shape cut into the stone. According to the INRAP version, the figure on the ring may be Venus Victrix, showing victory to the wearer.

Later, the INRAP team found evidence of settlement at the site between the 5th and 10th centuries, peaking between the 7th and 8th centuries. The Carolingian Dozen (shown at the top of the article) dates back to the 9th or 10th century.

Although there are no structures at the site, researchers have identified quadrangular plots across the site separated from each other by ditches. Although some plots of land contained buildings, others were used for other purposes, including growing crops and pastures.

The team also found underground storage silos generally used to store grain, water storage pits, and other pits that appear to have been used as stoves or ovens. Some ancient clay items that were used for storing goods or cooking also showed signs of reuse in the medieval period, indicating that later inhabitants of the settlement were aware of its earlier occupation.

INRAP’s excavation is the latest in some compelling archaeological research to come out of France this year. In April, a different team conducted the study Victims of ritual human sacrifice in the Rhone Valley and found that this practice was widespread throughout Europe during the Neolithic Age. To read more about this year’s amazing archaeological discoveries, visit this link Our 2024 recap.