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Tuesday, 6th March 2007 (6029 views)

An antique Viking gold ring has gone on display in Wales, although mystery still surrounds the valuable item.

The gold ring, thought to have been made in the 9th or 10th century, was found by amateur treasure hunters with metal detectors, in grassland near Mold in Wales three years ago.

However, the golden ring has experts confused, as there are no known Viking settlements in the area.

"It has captured the imagination that 1,000 years ago somebody was walking there and dropped the ring," Deborah Snow, the county's principal museums officer, told the BBC.

She added: "It is unusual in this area as there aren't any known Viking sites in Flintshire. The nearest are on the coast or in Chester.

"Because it was a stray find, there was no context to it. We have no idea who it was who lost it."

Theories on how the ring, which is valued at £1,500, came to be in the grasslands in Wales range from the romantic to the bizarre.

"We've had people suggest that maybe someone was on their way to propose with a gold ring. You can think of many things," said Ms Snow.

 

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