Wednesday, 11th January 2006 (3873 views)

East Carolina University is still waiting to be re-united with a priceless gold ring after previous attempts to return it from its current location in Florida were repeatedly thwarted.

The 10-carat gold ring was excavated at Croatan and is regarded by experts as one of the most significant finds from early American history.

University archaeologist David Phelps took the ring from the university to carry out further research on it when he moved to Florida five years ago.

But Mother Nature has thwarted his best intentions to the return the ring as Hurricane Wilma forced him to cancel his trip back up the coast last November.

Mr Phelps has vowed to return the ring by the end of January, the Virginian Pilot reports.

Experts believe the ring - which depicts a prancing lion - may be the first find linking English nobility and Native Americans. It was found beside a 16th century gunlock.

The band of gold was unearthed during a dig in Croatan in 1998.

Other digs in the same area have thrown up jewellery, coins, pipes and bones. The area was first excavated in 1983.

 

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